Cloning of biologically active genomes from a Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate by using a bacterial artificial chromosome

Scarless Baculovirus Genome Editing Using Lambda-Red Recombineering in E. coli

Baculoviruses are widely used for their potential as biological pesticide and as platform for the production of recombinant proteins and gene therapy vectors. The Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) is used for high level of expression of (multiple) proteins in insect cells. Baculovirus recombinants can be quickly constructed by transposition of the gene(s) of interest into a so-called bacmid, which is a baculovirus infectious clone maintained as single-copy, bacterial artificial chromosome in Escherichia coli. A two-step homologous recombineering technique using the lambda-red system in E. coli allows for scarless editing of the bacmid with PCR products based on sequence homology. In the first step, a selection cassette with 50 bp homology arms, typically generated by PCR, is inserted into the designated locus. In the second step, the selection cassette is removed based on a negative selection marker, such as SacB or rpsL. This lambda-red recombineering technique can be used for multiple gene editing purposes, including (large) deletions, insertions, and even single point mutations. Moreover, since there are no remnants of the editing process, successive modifications of the same bacmid are possible. This chapter provides detailed instructions to design and perform two-step homologous recombineering of baculovirus bacmid DNA in E. coli. We present two case studies demonstrating the utility of this technique for creating a deletion mutant of the chitinase and cathepsin genes and for introducing a single point mutation in the baculovirus gene gp41. This scarless genome editing approach can facilitate functional studies of baculovirus genes and improve the production of recombinant proteins using the BEVS.

A sensitive assay for scrutiny of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus genes using CRISPR-Cas9

Baculoviruses have very large genomes and previous studies have demonstrated improvements in recombinant protein production and genome stability through the removal of some nonessential sequences. However, recombinant baculovirus expression vectors (rBEVs) in widespread use remain virtually unmodified. Traditional approaches for generating knockout viruses (KOVs) require several experimental steps to remove the target gene prior to the generation of the virus. In order to optimize rBEV genomes by removing nonessential sequences, more efficient techniques for establishing and evaluating KOVs are required. Here, we have developed a sensitive assay utilizing CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene targeting to examine the phenotypic impact of disruption of endogenous Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) genes. For validation, 13 AcMNPV genes were targeted for disruption and evaluated for the production of GFP and progeny virus - traits that are essential for their use as vectors for recombinant protein production. The assay involves transfection of sgRNA into a Cas9-expressing Sf9 cell line followed by infection with a baculovirus vector carrying the gfp gene under the p10 or p6.9 promoters. This assay represents an efficient strategy for scrutinizing AcMNPV gene function through targeted disruption, and represents a valuable tool for developing an optimized rBEV genome. KEY POINTS: [Formula: see text] A method to scrutinize the essentiality of baculovirus genes was developed. [Formula: see text] The method uses Sf9-Cas9 cells, a targeting plasmid carrying a sgRNA, and a rBEV-GFP. [Formula: see text] The method allows scrutiny by only needing to modify the targeting sgRNA plasmid.

Relocation of the attTn7 Transgene Insertion Site in Bacmid DNA Enhances Baculovirus Genome Stability and Recombinant Protein Expression in Insect Cells

Baculovirus expression vectors are successfully used for the commercial production of complex (glyco)proteins in eukaryotic cells. The genome engineering of single-copy baculovirus infectious clones (bacmids) in E. coli has been valuable in the study of baculovirus biology, but bacmids are not yet widely applied as expression vectors. An important limitation of first-generation bacmids for large-scale protein production is the rapid loss of gene of interest (GOI) expression. The instability is caused by the mini-F replicon in the bacmid backbone, which is non-essential for baculovirus replication in insect cells, and carries the adjacent GOI in between attTn7 transposition sites. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that relocation of the attTn7 transgene insertion site away from the mini-F replicon prevents deletion of the GOI, thereby resulting in higher and prolonged recombinant protein expression levels. We applied lambda red genome engineering combined with SacB counterselection to generate a series of bacmids with relocated attTn7 sites and tested their performance by comparing the relative expression levels of different GOIs. We conclude that GOI expression from the odv-e56 (pif-5) locus results in higher overall expression levels and is more stable over serial passages compared to the original bacmid. Finally, we evaluated this improved next-generation bacmid during a bioreactor scale-up of Sf9 insect cells in suspension to produce enveloped chikungunya virus-like particles as a model vaccine.

Construction of the Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Multicapsid Nucleopolyhedrovirus Bacmid System

In this study, we established the Antheraea pernyi multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AnpeNPV) bacmid system for the construction of a Bac-to-Bac expression system and the generation of virus mutants. The CopyRight pSMART BAC cloning vector harboring the chloramphenicol resistance gene was introduced into the AnpeNPV genome to produce the AnpeNPV bacmid that could be propagated in Escherichia coli with stable replication. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was successfully expressed in both Tn-Hi5 cells and A. pernyi pupae using the AnpeNPV Bac-to-Bac expression system. To generate the AnpeNPV mutants, we developed the AnpeNPV bacmid/λ Red recombination system that facilitated the deletion of viral genes from the AnpeNPV genome. The genes cathepsin and chitinase were deleted and a derivative AnpeNPV Bac-to-Bac expression system was constructed. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the novel expression system could be used to express human epidermal growth factor in A. pernyi pupae. Taken together, the AnpeNPV bacmid system provides a powerful tool to create the AnpeNPV Bac-to-Bac expression system for protein expression in A. pernyi pupae. Further, it helps to knock-out genes from the AnpeNPV genome with λ Red recombination system for identification of the role of viral genes involved in regulating gene expression, DNA replication, virion structure, and infectivity during the AnpeNPV infection process.

Baculovirus ODV-E66 degrades larval peritrophic membrane to facilitate baculovirus oral infection

ODV-E66 is a major envelope proteins of baculovirus occlusion derived virus (ODV) with chondroitinase activity. Here, we studied the roles of ODV-E66 during Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) primary infection. ODV-E66 is a late viral protein dispensable for BV production and ODV morphogenesis. Deletion of odv-e66 had a profound effect on HearNPV oral infectivity in 4th instar larvae with a 50% lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value of 26 fold higher than that of the repaired virus, compared to in 3rd instar larvae. Calcofluor white, an agent which destroys the peritrophic membrane (PM), could rescue the oral infectivity of odv-e66 deleted HearNPV, implying the PM may be the target of ODV-E66. In vitro assays showed HearNPV ODV-E66 has chondroitinase activity. Electron microscopy demonstrated that odv-e66 deletion alleviated the damage to the PM caused by HearNPV infection. These data suggest an important role of ODV-E66 in the penetration of the PM during oral infection.

The cysteine-rich region of a baculovirus VP91 protein contributes to the morphogenesis of occlusion bodies

The baculovirus core gene vp91 has been reported to be essential for nucleocapsid assembly and oral infection. Here, we studied the function of vp91 by analyzing its homologue, ha76, in Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV). HA76 was expressed at the late stage of HearNPV infection; deletion of ha76 showed that the gene is required for budded virus production. A series of recombinants with truncated ha76 was constructed and analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the region encoding the C-terminus of HA76 was essential for nucleocapsid assembly, whereas the N-terminal cysteine-rich region was responsible for oral infection. Electron microscope analyses further showed that the cysteine-rich region contributed to morphogenesis of occlusion bodies (OBs), with amino acids 136-223 of HA76 being critical for this function. The results revealed a novel function of VP91 and suggested that the impact on OB morphogenesis is partially related to oral infectivity.

Expressing Double-Stranded RNAs of Insect Hormone-Related Genes Enhances Baculovirus Insecticidal Activity

Baculoviruses have already been used for insect pest control, but the slow killing speed limits their further promotion and application. Here we provide a strategy for improving baculovirus insecticidal activity using Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) to express double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeting cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) juvenile hormone (JH)-related genes. Droplet-feeding bioassays show that the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values of recombinant baculoviruses expressing the dsRNA of JH acid methyl transferase gene (HaJHAMT) and the JH acid binding protein gene (HaJHBP) were 1.24 × 10⁴ polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB)/mL and 2.26 × 10⁴ PIB/mL, respectively. Both were much lower than the control value (8.12 × 10⁴ PIB/mL). Meanwhile, the LT50 of recombinant baculovirus expressing dsRNA of HaJHBP was only 54.2% of the control value, which means that larval death was accelerated. Furthermore, the mRNA level of target genes was reduced in recombinant baculovirus-treated cotton bollworm larvae. Transcription of several key genes involved in hormone signaling pathways-for example, ecdysone receptor gene (HaEcR)-was also altered. This study establishes a new strategy for pest management by interfering with insect hormone-related gene expression via baculoviruses, and the engineered baculoviruses have great potential application in cotton production.

Expression- and genomic-level changes during passage of four baculoviruses derived from bacmids in permissive insect cell lines

The baculovirus-based bacmid expression vector system has been widely used for protein production in basic research and biotechnological laboratories. Since the first construction of the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus bacmid (AcBacmid), three more bacmids have been created from Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmBacmid), Spodoptera exigua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeBacmid) and Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaBacmid). Each of these bacmid-derived viruses replicates efficiently in a range of specific and permissive cell types. Here, we investigated the relative stability of each virus derived from the bacmid during passage in permissive cell lines through assessment of their expression level and genome structure changes. Using two different reporters, the expression levels of the viruses from the AcBacmid-Sf9, AcBacmid-Tn5, BmBacmid-BmN and SeBacmid-SeE1 bacmid-cell systems were significantly reduced after five passages of the viruses, whereas the reductions were not detected in the AcBacmid-Sf21 and HaBacmid-HzAM1 systems. Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of viral DNA isolated from passaged viruses from the AcBacmid-Sf21 and HaBacmid-HzAM1 systems showed no major genomic changes. In contrast, the genomes from passaged viruses in the AcBacmid-Tn5 and AcBacmid-Sf9 systems displayed reduced genome size and various mutations at individual loci, including genotypes missing one at least or more viral RNA polymerase subunits and fp25k. These genotypic changes were correlated with reduced protein expression. RFLP analysis of viral DNA from passaged viruses in the BmBacmid-BmN and SeBacmid-SeE1 systems exhibited changes in genome size, including excision of particular EcoRI fragments containing the mini-F replicon. Collectively, our data suggest that the viruses from the AcBacmid-Sf21 and HaBacmid-HzAM1 bacmid-cell systems are better for large-scale protein expression in continuous culture. Further study is needed to investigate the mechanism(s) behind the protein expression reduction in these bacmid-derived virus/cell systems.

HearNPV Pseudotyped with PIF1, 2, and 3 from MabrNPV: Infectivity and Complex Stability

Effective oral infection is set off by interaction of a group of conserved per os infectivity factors (PIFs) with larval midgut columnar epithelial cells. We constructed pseudotyped viruses by substituting pif1, pif2 or pif3 genes of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) with their homologs from Mamestra bracissae multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus and tested their infectivity to tissue culture cells and to larvae. Transfection and infection assays revealed that all recombinant viruses generated infectious budded virus in both cell culture and in larvae. Electron microscopy showed synthesized occlusion body and occlusion derived virus (ODV) were morphologically indistinguishable from those of the parental virus. By contrast, feeding assays revealed that pseudotyped viruses could not rescue oral infectivity except for pif3 pseudotyped virus that only partially rescued oral infectivity but at a mortality rate much lower than that of the parental HearNPV. Consistent with the bioassay result, PIF complex was detected in ODVs of pif3 pseudotyped virus only but not in pif1 or pif2 pseudotyped viruses. Our results suggest that PIF complex is essential for oral infectivity, and in the formation of the PIF complex, PIF1, 2 are virus-specific while PIF3 does not appear to be as specific and can function in heterologous environment, albeit to a much more limited extent.

Recombinant Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus with arthropod-specific neurotoxin gene RjAa17f from Rhopalurus junceus enhances the virulence against the host larvae

A recombinant Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) expressing the insect-selective neurotoxin (RjAa17f) from Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus was constructed by replacing the UDP-glucosyltransferase gene (egt) using λ-red homologous recombination system. Another egt deleted control HearNPV was constructed in a similar way by inserting egfp gene into the egt locus. One-step viral growth curve and viral DNA replication curve analysis confirmed that the recombination did not affect the viral growth and DNA replication in host cells. There is no discernable difference in occlusion-body morphogenesis between RjAa17f-HearNPV, Egfp-HearNPV and HZ8-HearNPV, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. However, the insecticidal activity of RjAa17f-HearNPV is enhanced against the third instar H. armigera larvae according to the bioassay on virulence comparison. There is a dramatic reduction (56.9%) in median lethal dose (LD₅₀ ) and also a reduction (13.4%) in median survival time (ST₅₀ ) for the recombinant RjAa17f-HearNPV compared to the HZ8-HearNPV, but only a 27.5% reduction in LD₅₀ and 10.1% reduction in ST₅₀ value when Egfp-HearNPV is compared with HZ8-HearNPV. The daily diet consumption analysis showed that the RjAa17f-HearNPV was able to inhibit the infected larvae feeding compared with the egt minus HearNPV. These results demonstrated that this novel recombinant RjAa17f-HearNPV could improve the insecticidal effect against its host insects and RjAa17f could be a considerable candidate for other recombinant baculovirus constructions.

Cloning, Stability, and Modification of Mycoplasma hominis Genome in Yeast

Mycoplasma hominis is a minimal human pathogen that is responsible for genital and neonatal infections. Despite many attempts, there is no efficient genetic tool to manipulate this bacterium, limiting most investigations of its pathogenicity and its uncommon energy metabolism that relies on arginine. The recent cloning and subsequent engineering of other mycoplasma genomes in yeast opens new possibilities for studies of the genomes of genetically intractable organisms. Here, we report the successful one-step cloning of the M. hominis PG21 genome in yeast using the transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning method. At low passages, the M. hominis genome cloned into yeast displayed a conserved size. However, after ∼60 generations in selective media, this stability was affected, and large degradation events were detected, raising questions regarding the stability of large heterologous DNA molecules cloned in yeast and the need to minimize host propagation. Taking these results into account, we selected early passage yeast clones and successfully modified the M. hominis PG21 genome using the CRISPR/Cas9 editing tool, available in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Complete M. hominis PG21 genomes lacking the adhesion-related vaa gene were efficiently obtained.

Designing of a Recombinant Agip Bacmid Construct with Infectious Properties Against Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon Larvae

In this study, Agrotis ipsilon nucleopolyhedrovirus bacmid has been constructed as an infectious bacmid in an attempt to allow genome recombination and generation of virus mutants. Since the FseI, a unique restriction site, is located in a viral coding region (ORF_119), PCR was performed to partially amplify the ORF_119 fragment containing the FseI site to facilitate the bacmid construction in a proper way without interrupting the ORF expression. Construction with repeated fragments at the end of the cloned viral was carried out in an attempt to facilitate circulation during infection in insect cells. The amplified gp_119 fragment was cloned into the BAC_Bsu361 plasmid derived from the AcMNPV Bac-to-Bac® system. Recombinant plasmid was used to subclone the Agrotis ipsilon nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipNPV)-linearized genome using the FseI unique site. The Agip bacmid DNA extracted from Escherichia coli was used to transfect A. ipsilon third instar larvae by injection into the hemolymph. The produced occlusion bodies were purified from infected larvae and used to feed healthy larvae for amplifying the virus, and infectivity was recorded. Using bacmid technology will facilitate manipulation of the AgipNPV genome and help in determining the genetic factors involved in virus virulence and biology.

The Host Specificities of Baculovirus per os Infectivity Factors

Baculoviruses are insect-specific pathogens with a generally narrow host ranges. Successful primary infection is initiated by the proper interaction of at least 8 conserved per os infectivity factors (PIFs) with the host's midgut cells, a process that remains largely a mystery. In this study, we investigated the host specificities of the four core components of the PIF complex, P74, PIF1, PIF2 and PIF3 by using Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) backbone. The four pifs of HearNPV were replaced by their counterparts from a group I Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) or a group II Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV). Transfection and infection assays showed that all the recombinant viruses were able to produce infectious budded viruses (BVs) and were lethal to H. armigera larvae via intrahaemocoelic injection. However, feeding experiments using very high concentration of occlusion bodies demonstrated that all the recombinant viruses completely lost oral infectivity except SpltNPV pif3 substituted pif3-null HearNPV (vHaBacΔpif3-Sppif3-ph). Furthermore, bioassay result showed that the median lethal concentration (LC50) value of vHaBacΔpif3-Sppif3-ph was 23-fold higher than that of the control virus vHaBacΔpif3-Hapif3-ph, indicating that SpltNPV pif3 can only partially substitute the function of HearNPV pif3. These results suggested that most of PIFs tested have strict host specificities, which may account, at least in part, for the limited host ranges of baculoviruses.

Characterization of the viral fibroblast growth factor homolog of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is found throughout multicellular organisms; however, fgf homologs (vfgf) have only been identified among viruses in lepidopteran baculoviruses. The function of vFGFs from Group I alphabaculoviruses, including Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), involves accelerated killing of infected larvae by both viruses. The vFGF of Group II alphabaculovirus is structurally different from that of Group I alphabaculovirus, with a larger C-terminal region and additional N-linked glycosylation sites. In this study, we characterized the Group II alphabaculovirus vFGF of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV). The transcription and expression of vfgf was detected at 3 h and 16 h post-infection in HearNPV-infected cells. To further study vFGF function, we constructed vfgf-knockout and -repaired HearNPV bacmids and investigated their affect in both cultured cells and insects. Deletion of vfgf had no effect on budded-virus production or viral DNA replication in cultured HzAM1 cells. However, bioassays showed that HearNPV vfgf deletion significantly increased the median lethal dose and delayed the median lethal time by ∼12 h in the host insect when the virus was delivered orally. These results suggested that vFGF is an important virulent factor for HearNPV infection and propagation in vivo.

Introduction of temperature-sensitive helper and donor plasmids into Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression systems

In the baculovirus shuttle vector (bacmid) system, a helper plasmid and a donor plasmid are employed to insert heterologous genes into a cloned baculovirus genome via Tn7 transposition in Escherichia coli. The helper and donor plasmids are usually cotransfected with constructed bacmids into insect cells, which will lead to integration of these plasmids into the viral genome, and hence to the production of defective virions. In this study, to facilitate the preparation of plasmid-free recombinant bacmids, we modified a set of helper and donor plasmids by replacing their replication origins with that of a temperature-sensitive (ts) plasmid, pSIM6. Using the resulting ts helper plasmid pMON7124(ts) and the ts donor plasmid pFB1(ts)-PH-GFP, a recombinant bacmid, bAcWT-PG(-), was constructed, and the transposition efficiency was found to be 33.1%. The plasmids were then removed by culturing at 37 °C. For bAcWT-PG(-), the infectious progeny virus titer and the protein expression level under the control of the polyhedrin promoter were similar to those of a bacmid constructed with unmodified helper and donor plasmids. These ts plasmids will be useful for obtaining plasmid-free bacmids for both heterologous protein production and fundamental studies of baculovirus biology.

A Novel Neurotoxin Gene ar1b Recombination Enhances the Efficiency of Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus as a Pesticide by Inhibiting the Host Larvae Ability to Feed and Grow

A recombinant Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV), Ar1b-HearNPV, was constructed and identified as an improved bio-control agent of Helicoverpa armigera larvae. The HearNPV polyhedrin promoter was used to express the insect-specific neurotoxin gene, ar1b, which was originally isolated from the Australian funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that both the ar1b transcript and protein were produced successfully in Ar1b-HearNPV-infected HzAM1 cells. In order to investigate the influence of foreign gene insertion in HearNPV, including the ar1b gene, chloramphenicol resistance gene, lacZ, kanamycin resistance gene, and the gentamicin resistance gene, two virus strains (HZ8-HearNPV and wt-HearNPV) were used as controls in the cell transfection analysis. As expected, foreign gene insertion had no impact on budded virus production and viral DNA replication. Both optical microscopy and electron microscopy observations indicated that the formation of the occlusion bodies of recombinant virus was similar to wild type virus. The Ar1b-HearNPV-infected H. armigera larvae exhibited paralysis and weight loss before dying. This recombinant virus also showed a 32.87% decrease in LT50 assays compared with the wild type virus. Besides, Ar1b-HearNPV also inhibited host larval growth and diet consumption. This inhibition was still significant in the older instar larvae treated with the recombinant virus. All of these positive properties of this novel recombinant HearNPV provide a further opportunity to develop this virus strain into a commercial product to control the cotton bollworm.

Ha83, a Chitin Binding Domain Encoding Gene, Is Important to Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus Budded Virus Production and Occlusion Body Assembling

Helicoerpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) ha83 is a late expressed gene that encodes a chitin binding protein. Chitin domain truncation studies revealed that the cysteine at the 128 amino acid position probably played an important role in both chitin binding ability and protein transmission of Ha83. In order to study the function of ha83 in the HearNPV infection cycle, an ha83 knockout HearNPV (Ha83KO) was constructed via homologous recombination. Viral growth and viral DNA replication curves showed that fewer budded virions were produced in Ha83KO transfected cells, while viral DNA replication was increased. Electron microscopy revealed that fewer nucleocapsids were transmitted from virogenic stroma in the Ha83KO transfected cell nucleus, and the morphology of occlusion bodies was prominently larger and cube-shaped. Furthermore, DNA quantity in occlusion bodies of Ha83KO was significantly lower than the occlusion bodies of HaWT. The transcription analysis indicated that these changes may be due to the decreased expression level of viral structural associated genes, such as polyhedrin, p10, pif-2, or cg30 in Ha83KO infected cells. Above results demonstrated that the cysteine at the 128 amino acid position in Ha83 might be the key amino acid, and Ha83 plays an important role in BVs production and OBs assembling.

Possible functional co-operation of palindromes hr3 and hr4 in the genome of Cydia pomonella granulovirus affects viral replication capacity

After previous studies had shown that natural transposon insertion between the two homologous regions hr3 and hr4 of the genome of the Mexican (M) strain of Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV-M) resulted in a loss of viral competitiveness, the function of these homologous regions was investigated. A CpGV-based bacmid (CpBAC) was constructed and mutants with deleted hr3 and hr4 palindromes (CpBAChr3/hr4KO) and a construct (CpBAChr3-kan-hr4) with physically separated hr3 and hr4 repeats were generated to investigate their involvement in in vivo replication. Based on median lethal concentration (LC50) and median survival time (ST50) of the mutant viruses vCpBAChr3/hr4KO and vCpBAChr3-kan-hr4 it was found that the infectivity of both mutants for codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lep.: Tortricidae) larvae was not influenced compared with the parental virus vCpBAC. Co-infection experiments with vCpBAChr3-kan-hr4 and vCpBAC using different virus ratios revealed that vCpBAChr3-kan-hr4 was efficiently out-competed by vCpBAC during in vivo replication. These findings suggested that the separation of hr3 and hr4 resulted in a replication disadvantage of the mutant similar to the observation made in previous co-infection experiments using the transposon-carrying mutant CpGV-MCp5 and WT CpGV-M. It was concluded that the palindromes hr3 and hr4 may play a non-essential but co-functional role in the replication of CpGV-M.

A Novel Binary Mixture of Helicoverpa armigera Single Nucleopolyhedrovirus Genotypic Variants Has Improved Insecticidal Characteristics for Control of Cotton Bollworms

The genotypic diversity of two Spanish isolates of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearSNPV) was evaluated with the aim of identifying mixtures of genotypes with improved insecticidal characteristics for control of the cotton bollworm. Two genotypic variants, HearSP1A and HearSP1B, were cloned in vitro from the most pathogenic wild-type isolate of the Iberian Peninsula, HearSNPV-SP1 (HearSP1-wt). Similarly, six genotypic variants (HearLB1 to -6) were obtained by endpoint dilution from larvae collected from cotton crops in southern Spain that died from virus disease during laboratory rearing. Variants differed significantly in their insecticidal properties, pathogenicity, speed of kill, and occlusion body (OB) production (OBs/larva). HearSP1B was ∼3-fold more pathogenic than HearSP1-wt and the other variants. HearLB1, HearLB2, HeaLB5, and HearLB6 were the fastest-killing variants. Moreover, although highly virulent, HearLB1, HearLB4, and HearLB5 produced more OBs/larva than did the other variants. The co-occluded HearSP1B:LB6 mixture at a 1:1 proportion was 1.7- to 2.8-fold more pathogenic than any single variant and other mixtures tested and also killed larvae as fast as the most virulent genotypes. Serial passage resulted in modified proportions of the component variants of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture, suggesting that transmissibility could be further improved by this process. We conclude that the improved insecticidal phenotype of the HearSP1B:LB6 co-occluded mixture underlines the utility of the genotypic variant dissection and reassociation approach for the development of effective virus-based insecticides.

Identification and functional analysis of inter-subunit disulfide bonds of the F protein of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus

The major envelope fusion protein F of the budded virus of baculoviruses consists of two disulfide-linked subunits: an N-terminal F2 subunit and a C-terminal, membrane-anchored F1 subunit. There is one cysteine in F2 and there are 15 cysteines in F1, but their role in disulfide linking is largely unknown. In this study, the inter- and intra-subunit disulfide bonds of the Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) F protein were analysed by site-directed mutagenesis. Results indicated that in a functional F protein, an inter-subunit disulfide bond exists between amino acids C108 (F2) and C241 (F1). When C241 was mutated, an alternative disulfide bond was formed between C108 and C232, rendering F non-functional. No inter-subunit bridge was observed in a double C232/C241 mutant of F1. C403 was not involved in the formation of inter-subunit disulfide bonding, but mutation of this amino acid decreased viral infectivity significantly, suggesting that it might be involved in intra-subunit disulfide bonds. The influence of reductant [tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP)] and free-thiol inhibitors [4-acetamido-4'-maleimidylstilbene 2,2'-disulfonic acid (AMS) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB)] on the infectivity of HearNPV was tested. The results indicated that TCEP greatly decreased the infection of HzAm1 cells by HearNPV. In contrast, AMS and DTNB had no inhibitory effect on viral infectivity. The data suggested that free thiol/disulfide isomerization was not likely to play a role in viral entry and infectivity.

Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus orf81 is a late gene involved in budded virus production

Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) orf81 (ha81) is a core gene that is highly conserved in all lepidopteran baculoviruses. Its homolog in the group I baculoviruses, ac93, has been shown to be essential for the nuclear egress of nucleocapsids, but its role in the group II HearNPV life cycle remains unknown. In this study, an ha81 mutant bacmid was constructed by homologous recombination to investigate the role of HA81 in the viral life cycle. Quantitative PCR analysis showed that viral DNA replication was unaffected in the absence of ha81. However, the budded virus production of the ha81-null virus was completely blocked. Transmission electron microscopic analysis showed that ha81 is required for the egress of nucleocapsids from the nucleus. Analysis of the time course of transcription and expression revealed that ha81 is a late gene. An immunofluorescence analysis showed that the protein mainly localizes in the cytoplasm. To understand whether the transcription of other genes is affected by the deletion of ha81, the transcription of several well-characterized viral genes was investigated in the ha81-knockout HearNPV mutant. No obvious changes were observed at the transcription level, except for the odv-e25 gene downstream from ha81. In conclusion, these data indicate that ha81 is a late gene that is critical for budded virus production but is involved in neither viral DNA replication nor gene transcription.

A Chrysodeixis chalcites single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus population from the Canary Islands is genotypically structured to maximize survival

A Chrysodeixis chalcites single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus wild-type isolate from the Canary Islands, Spain, named ChchSNPV-TF1 (ChchTF1-wt), appears to have great potential as the basis for a biological insecticide for control of the pest. An improved understanding of the genotypic structure of this wild-type strain population should facilitate the selection of genotypes for inclusion in a bioinsecticidal product. Eight genetically distinct genotypes were cloned in vitro: ChchTF1-A to ChchTF1-H. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis confirmed that ChchTF1-A accounted for 36% of the genotypes in the wild-type population. In bioassays, ChchTF1-wt occlusion bodies (OBs) were significantly more pathogenic than any of the component single-genotype OBs, indicating that genotype interactions were likely responsible for the pathogenicity phenotype of wild-type OBs. However, the wild-type population was slower killing and produced higher OB yields than any of the single genotypes alone. These results strongly suggested that the ChchTF1-wt population is structured to maximize its transmission efficiency. Experimental OB mixtures and cooccluded genotype mixtures containing the most abundant and the rarest genotypes, at frequencies similar to those at which they were isolated, revealed a mutualistic interaction that restored the pathogenicity of OBs. In OB and cooccluded mixtures containing only the most abundant genotypes, ChchTF1-ABC, OB pathogenicity was even greater than that of wild-type OBs. The ChchTF1-ABC cooccluded mixture killed larvae 33 h faster than the wild-type population and remained genotypically and biologically stable throughout five successive passages in vivo. In conclusion, the ChchTF1-ABC mixture shows great potential as the active ingredient of a bioinsecticide to control C. chalcites in the Canary Islands.

Use of bacterial artificial chromosomes in baculovirus research and recombinant protein expression: current trends and future perspectives

The baculovirus expression system is one of the most successful and widely used eukaryotic protein expression methods. This short review will summarise the role of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACS) as an enabling technology for the modification of the virus genome. For many years baculovirus genomes have been maintained in E. coli as bacterial artificial chromosomes, and foreign genes have been inserted using a transposition-based system. However, with recent advances in molecular biology techniques, particularly targeting reverse engineering of the baculovirus genome by recombineering, new frontiers in protein expression are being addressed. In particular, BACs have facilitated the propagation of disabled virus genomes that allow high throughput protein expression. Furthermore, improvement in the selection of recombinant viral genomes inserted into BACS has enabled the expression of multiprotein complexes by iterative recombineering of the baculovirus genome.

Incorporation of GP64 into Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus enhances virus infectivity in vivo and in vitro

The envelope fusion proteins of baculoviruses, glycoprotein GP64 from group I nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) or the F protein from group II NPV and granulovirus, are essential for baculovirus morphogenesis and infectivity. The F protein is considered the ancestral baculovirus envelope fusion protein, while GP64 is a more recent evolutionary introduction into baculoviruses and exhibits higher fusogenic activity than the F protein. Each of the fusion proteins is required by the respective virus to spread infection within larval tissues. A recombinant Helicoverpa armigera NPV (HearNPV) expressing GP64 from Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, vHaBac-gp64-egfp, was constructed, which still retained the native F protein, and its infectivity was assayed in vivo and in vitro. Analyses by one-step growth curve to determine viral titre and by quantitative PCR to determine viral DNA copy number showed that vHaBac-gp64-egfp was more infectious in vitro than the control, vHaBac-egfp. The polyhedrin gene (polh) was reintroduced into the recombinant viruses and bioassays showed that vHaBac-gp64-polh accelerated the mortality of infected larvae compared with the vHaBac-egfp-polh control, and the LC(50) (median lethal concentration) of vHaBac-gp64-polh was reduced to approximately 20 % of that of vHaBac-egfp-polh. Therefore, incorporation of GP64 into HearNPV budded virions improved virus infectivity both in vivo and in vitro. The construction of this bivalent virus with a more efficient fusion protein could improve the use of baculoviruses in different areas such as gene therapy and biocontrol.

Genomic sequencing and analyses of HearMNPV--a new Multinucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus isolated from Helicoverpa armigera

Background

HearMNPV, a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), which infects the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, comprises multiple rod-shaped nucleocapsids in virion(as detected by electron microscopy). HearMNPV shows a different host range compared with H. armigera single-nucleocapsid NPV (HearSNPV). To better understand HearMNPV, the HearMNPV genome was sequenced and analyzed.

Methods

The morphology of HearMNPV was observed by electron microscope. The qPCR was used to determine the replication kinetics of HearMNPV infectious for H. armigera in vivo. A random genomic library of HearMNPV was constructed according to the “partial filling-in” method, the sequence and organization of the HearMNPV genome was analyzed and compared with sequence data from other baculoviruses.

Results

Real time qPCR showed that HearMNPV DNA replication included a decreasing phase, latent phase, exponential phase, and a stationary phase during infection of H. armigera. The HearMNPV genome consists of 154,196 base pairs, with a G + C content of 40.07%. 162 putative ORFs were detected in the HearMNPV genome, which represented 90.16% of the genome. The remaining 9.84% constitute four homologous regions and other non-coding regions. The gene content and gene arrangement in HearMNPV were most similar to those of Mamestra configurata NPV-B (MacoNPV-B), but was different to HearSNPV. Comparison of the genome of HearMNPV and MacoNPV-B suggested that HearMNPV has a deletion of a 5.4-kb fragment containing five ORFs. In addition, HearMNPV orf66, bro genes, and hrs are different to the corresponding parts of the MacoNPV-B genome.

Conclusions

HearMNPV can replicate in vivo in H. armigera and in vitro, and is a new NPV isolate distinguished from HearSNPV. HearMNPV is most closely related to MacoNPV-B, but has a distinct genomic structure, content, and organization.

Helicoverpa armaigera nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF50 is an early gene not essential for virus propagation in vitro and in vivo

Homologs of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF50 (HA50) are found in most alphabaculoviruses, but their functions remain unknown. Here, we characterized whether Ha50 is indispensable for virus progration. Ha50 transcript was first detected at 3 h post-infection from HearNPV-infected HzAM1 cells. 3'RACE analysis showed that Ha50 transcript was polyadenlylated. 5'RACE analysis revealed two transcription initiation sites, one of which was mapped to the canonical baculovirus early transcription initiator motif CAGT. HA50 protein could be detected from infected cells harvested at 12 h post-infection. Transient expression assays showed that GFP-fused HA50 localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of HzAM1 cells with or without superinfection. To further examine the role of Ha50 in the virus life cycle, a Ha50 knockout bacmid and a repair bacmid carrying Ha50 under the control of its native promoter elements were constructed using bacmid technology. One-step growth curve analysis showed that the kinetics of infectious budded virus production of Ha50 knockout virus was similar to that of the parental virus or the repair virus. Analysis of the expression of viral early protein IE-1, late protein VP39 and very late protein suggested that viral protein expression was not affected by Ha50 inactivation. Electron microscopy revealed that HaBacΔ50-PH-G occluded viruses (ODVs) and occlusion bodies were indistinguishable from those of the wild-type virus. Similarly, bioassays showed no significant difference in the LC(50) values between Ha50 deletion virus and wild-type virus. Our results together demonstrate that Ha50 is an early gene dispensable for virus propagation in vitro and in vivo.

Phenotypic grouping of 141 BmNPVs lacking viral gene sequences

We constructed a series of gene knockout BmNPVs (KOVs) for each of 141 genes (Gomi et al., 1999; Katsuma et al., 2011) using the BmNPV T3 bacmid system (Ono et al., 2007) and lambda red recombination system (Datsenko and Wanner, 2000). In a subsequent analysis of the properties needed for infection using a marker gene, egfp (enhanced green fluorescent protein gene), inserted into the polyhedrin locus, the knockout viruses (KOVs) were subdivided into four phenotypic types, A to D. Type-A (86 KOVs) showed the ability to expand infections equivalent to the control while type-B (8 KOVs) spread infections more slowly. Type-C (37 KOVs) expressed egfp in transfected-BmN cells but the production of infectious viruses was not observed. Type-D (10 KOVs) showed no ability to express egfp even in the transfection experiments. KOVs lacking genes (pkip (Bm15), gp41 (Bm66), bro-d (Bm131), Bm20, 48, 65, 91, 93, or 101) previously identified as being essential, were placed in the viable type-A and B categories.

ORF85 of HearNPV encodes the per os infectivity factor 4 (PIF4) and is essential for the formation of the PIF complex

ORF85 of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) encodes a homologue of the per os infectivity factor 4 (PIF-4) of Autographa californica multiple nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). In this paper, the functions of HA85, particularly in relation to oral infection and interactions with other PIFs were investigated. An ha85-disrupted recombinant HearNPV was generated and resulted in a complete loss of oral infectivity. Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analyses suggested PIF1, PIF2, and PIF3 assemble into a PIF complex in HearNPV ODV. Although Western blotting and Co-IP did not show that HA85 is associated with the PIF complex, further analysis revealed the inactivation of ha85 led to the disruption of PIF complex. Yeast two hybridization analyses revealed that HA85 interacts with P74, PIF1, PIF2 and PIF3. In conclusion, HA85 is identified as the PIF4 of HearNPV and is proposed to participate in the formation of HearNPV PIF complex via associations with other PIFs.

Functional studies of per os infectivity factor 3 of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus

PIF3 is one of the six conserved per os infectivity factors (PIFs) of baculoviruses. In this study, PIF3 of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) was analysed by infectivity bioassays using a series of recombinant viruses harbouring various PIF3 truncation/substitution mutants. The results demonstrated that the N-terminal region (L26-Y45) and C-terminal region (T160-Q199) are essential for HearNPV oral infectivity. In the C-terminal T160-Q199 region, there are three conserved cysteines (C162, C164 and C185). Our results showed that substitutions of C162 or C164, predicted to be involved in disulfide-bond formation, led to a severe decrease in HearNPV per os infectivity. Mutation of C185, predicted not to be involved in disulfide-bond formation, did not affect the per os infectivity. The data suggest that disulfide bonds are important for PIF3 conformation and function. Immunofluorescence assays showed that none of the mutations affected the subcellular localization of PIF3 to the nuclear ring zone region of infected cells. Western blot results showed that all mutants except C162G and C185G failed to incorporate PIF3 into occlusion-derived viruses, which resulted in impaired oral infectivity of the latter. The data provide insights for future study of PIF3 function.

Putative phosphorylation sites on WCA domain of HA2 is essential for Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus replication

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most common post-translational modification processes that play an essential role in regulating protein functionality. The Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) orf2-encoded nucleocapsid protein HA2 participates in orchestration of virus-induced actin polymerization through its WCA domain, in which phosphorylation status are supposed to be critical in respect to actin polymerization. In the present study, two putative phosphorylation sites ((232)Thr and (250)Ser) and a highly conserved Serine ((245)Ser) on the WCA domain of HA2 were mutated, and their phenotypes were characterized by reintroducing the mutated HA2 into the HearNPV genome. Viral infectivity assays demonstrated that only the recombinant HearNPV bearing HA2 mutation at (245)Ser can produce infectious virions, both (232)Thr and (250)Ser mutations were lethal to the virus. However, actin polymerization assay demonstrated that all the three viruses bearing HA2 mutations were still capable of initiating actin polymerization in the host nucleus, which indicated the putative phosphorylation sites on HA2 may contribute to HearNPV replication through another unidentified pathway.

Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus occlusion-derived virus-associated protein, HA100, affects oral infectivity in vivo but not virus replication in vitro

ORF100 (ha100) of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) has been reported as one of the unique genes of group II alphabaculoviruses encoding a protein located in the occlusion-derived virus (ODV) envelope and nucleocapsid. The protein consists of 510 aa with a predicted mass of 58.1 kDa and is a homologue of poly(ADP–ribose) glycohydrolase in eukaryotes. Western blot analysis detected a 60 kDa band in HearNPV-infected HzAM1 cells starting at 18 h post-infection. Transient expression of GFP-fused HA100 in HzAM1 cells resulted in cytoplasmic localization of the protein, but after superinfection with HearNPV, GFP-fused HA100 was localized in the nucleus. To study the function of HA100 further, an ha100-null virus was constructed using bacmid technology. Viral one-step growth curve analyses showed that the ha100-null virus had similar budded virus production kinetics to that of the parental virus. Electron microscopy revealed that deletion of HA100 did not alter the morphology of ODVs or occlusion bodies (OBs). However, bioassays in larvae showed that the 50 % lethal concentration (LC50) value of HA100-null OBs was significantly higher than that of parental OBs; the median lethal time (LT50) of ha100-null OBs was about 24 h later than control virus. These results indicate that HA100 is not essential for virus replication in vitro. However, it significantly affects the oral infectivity of OBs in host insects, suggesting that the association HA100 with the ODV contributes to the infectivity of OBs in vivo.

Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF51 is a ChaB homologous gene involved in budded virus production and DNA replication

The baculovirus ChaB proteins are conserved in all completely sequenced Lepidopteran NPVs and are annotated as putative DNA binding proteins. Here we investigated Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) ORF51 (ha51), one of the ChaB homologues in HearNPV. 5'-RACE revealed that Ha51 is transcribed from a conventional early promoter transcriptional initiator motif (CATT) located at 159nt upstream of ATG. RT-PCR confirmed that ha51 is an early transcribed gene. To study the function of Ha51 in the life cycle of HearNPV, Ha51 knockout and repair bacmids were generated by homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. Growth curve and DNA replication analyses showed that the levels of budded virus (BV) production and viral DNA accumulation were significantly higher in cells infected with Ha51 null virus than those infected with wild-type bacmid derived virus. Electron microscopy revealed that polyhedra formation was not affected by the deletion of Ha51. Bioassay demonstrated that the Ha51-deleted virus had similar oral infectivity as the wild-type and rescued virus. Western blot analyses suggested that HA51 is a component of the nucleocapsid of BV and occlusion-derived virus as well as the envelope of BV. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that HA51 protein is mainly localized in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Taken together, our results indicate that, unlike previously characterized baculovirual ChaB genes, Ha51 is involved in viral DNA replication and BV production and is transcribed in the early stage of infection.

Partial functional rescue of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus infectivity by replacement of F protein with GP64 from Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

Two distinct envelope fusion proteins (EFPs) (GP64 and F) have been identified in members of the Baculoviridae family of viruses. F proteins are found in group II nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) of alphabaculoviruses and in beta- and deltabaculoviruses, while GP64 occurs only in group I NPVs of alphabaculoviruses. It was proposed that an ancestral baculovirus acquired the gp64 gene that conferred a selective advantage and allowed it to evolve into group I NPVs. The F protein is a functional analogue of GP64, as evidenced from the rescue of gp64-null Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (MNPV) (AcMNPV) by F proteins from group II NPVs or from betabaculoviruses. However, GP64 failed to rescue an F-null Spodoptera exigua MNPV (SeMNPV) (group II NPV). Here, we report the successful generation of an infectious gp64-rescued group II NPV of Helicoverpa armigera (vHaBacΔF-gp64). Viral growth curve assays and quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), however, showed substantially decreased infectivity of vHaBacΔF-gp64 compared to the HaF rescue control virus vHaBacΔF-HaF. Electron microscopy further showed that most vHaBacΔF-gp64 budded viruses (BV) in the cell culture supernatant lacked envelope components and contained morphologically aberrant nucleocapsids, suggesting the improper BV envelopment or budding of vHaBacΔF-gp64. Bioassays using pseudotyped viruses with a reintroduced polyhedrin gene showed that GP64-pseudotyped Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) significantly delayed the mortality of infected H. armigera larvae.

Cloning whole bacterial genomes in yeast

Most microbes have not been cultured, and many of those that are cultivatable are difficult, dangerous or expensive to propagate or are genetically intractable. Routine cloning of large genome fractions or whole genomes from these organisms would significantly enhance their discovery and genetic and functional characterization. Here we report the cloning of whole bacterial genomes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as single-DNA molecules. We cloned the genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium (0.6 Mb), M. pneumoniae (0.8 Mb) and M. mycoides subspecies capri (1.1 Mb) as yeast circular centromeric plasmids. These genomes appear to be stably maintained in a host that has efficient, well-established methods for DNA manipulation.

Cloning of complete genomes of large dsDNA viruses by in vitro transposition of an F factor containing transposon

An improved bacmid technology for cloning complete genomes of large dsDNA viruses with circular genomes has been developed and tested. The system, termed EZ::BAC, is based on Escherichia coli F factor replicon, a chloramphenicol resistant marker gene with the mosaic ends recognized specifically by the transposase of the Tn5. In vitro transposition was carried out for the baculovirus shuttle vector pMON14272 (136kb) and the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) genome (134kb) as target DNAs. Transposon EZ::BAC was inserted randomly into the target DNAs, leading to 9bp duplication of the flanking end at the insertion site. One of the obtained AcMNPV::BACs replicated in Sf21 cells after transfection. The random in vitro generation of viral bacmids using EZ::BAC facilitates the host-independent propagation of intact and functional viral genomes in E. coli cells and does not require sequence information of the target DNA as is necessary for the generation of bacmids in conventional systems.

Functional analysis of the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus IAP1 and IAP2

The Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) contains three apoptosis suppressor genes: p35, iap1 and iap2. AcMNPV P35 functions as a pancaspase inhibitor, but the function of IAP1 and IAP2 has not been entirely resolved. In this paper, we analyze the function of IAP1 and IAP2 in detail. AcMNPV with p35-deletion inhibited the apoptosis of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Tn-Hi5) cells induced by a Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid NPV (HearNPV) infection and rescued the replication of HearNPV and BV production in these cells. Transient-expression experiments indicated that both IAP1 and IAP2 suppress apoptosis of Tn-Hi5 cells during HearNPV infection. Recombinant HearNPVs expressing AcMNPV iap1, iap2 and p35, respectively, not only prevented apoptosis but also allowed HearNPV to replicate in Tn-Hi5 cells. However, the iap1, iap2 and p35 genes when expressed in HearNPV were unable to rescue BV production. These results indicate that both AcMNPV iap1 and iap2 function independently as apoptosis inhibitors of and are potential host range factors.

Functional studies of per os infectivity factors of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

A combined functional investigation on the four per os infectivity factors (PIFs) of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) was conducted in this study. HearNPV bacmids with deletions of p74 (Ha20), pif1 (Ha111), pif2 (Ha132) and pif3 (Ha98) were constructed individually by homologous recombination in Escherichia coli cells. Repaired bacmids with respective pifs were also constructed. Western blot analyses revealed that all four PIFs were structural components of the envelope of HearNPV occlusion-derived virus (ODV). Electron microscopy showed that deletion of the pifs did not have any obvious effects on the morphology of the occlusion bodies (OBs). Bioassay analyses indicated that deletion of any of the above pifs resulted in loss of oral infectivity of OBs. The mixtures of the four pif-deletion mutants also resulted in deficiency of oral infectivity, implying that the four PIFs must be structural components of the same ODV to accomplish their function. Repairing of the respective genes into the pif-deletion bacmids could rescue the oral infectivity of the pif-deletion viruses. Calcofluor, which can damage the peritrophic membrane (PM), could not rescue the defects of the oral infectivity of the pif-deletion viruses, indicating that the PM is not likely to be the functional target of the PIFs.

A bacmid approach to the genetic manipulation of granuloviruses

A Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) bacmid has been constructed, which allows rapid and efficient production of recombinant baculoviruses in Escherichia coli. An 8.6kbp bacterial DNA cassette derived from the AcMNPV Bac-to-Bac system was ligated into a unique PacI restriction site within an intergenic region flanking the DNA ligase gene of the CpGV genome. The CpGV bacmids produced in E. coli were transfected into a CpGV-permissive C. pomonella cell line and the transfected cells fed to larvae to amplify the virus. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under the constitutive Drosophila heat-shock promoter was transposed into the mini-attTn7 transposition site, using a modified pFASTBAC donor plasmid, to generate a recombinant CpGV bacmid which caused infected larvae to glow under UV light. Targeted homologous recombination was also achieved in a recombinant proficient E. coli strain (BJ5183). A chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene replaced the cathepsin (v-cath) gene in the bacmid to produce a v-cath-deletion mutant. This is the first published report of a granulovirus bacmid, which will allow easy manipulation of the CpGV genome, enabling future studies on granulovirus genes and biology.

Sf29 gene of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus is a viral factor that determines the number of virions in occlusion bodies

The genome of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) was inserted into a bacmid (Sfbac) and used to produce a mutant lacking open reading frame 29 (Sf29null). Sf29null bacmid DNA was able to generate an infection in S. frugiperda. Approximately six times less DNA was present in occlusion bodies (OBs) produced by the Sf29null bacmid in comparison to viruses containing this gene. This reduction in DNA content was consistent with fewer virus particles being packaged within Sf29null bacmid OBs, as determined by fractionation of dissolved polyhedra and comparison of occlusion-derived virus (ODV) infectivity in cell culture. DNA from Sfbac, Sf29null, or Sf29null-repair, in which the gene deletion had been repaired, were equally infectious when used to transfect S. frugiperda. All three viruses produced similar numbers of OBs, although those from Sf29null were 10-fold less infectious than viruses with the gene. Insects infected with Sf29null bacmid died approximately 24 h later than positive controls, consistent with the reduced virus particle content of Sf29null OBs. Transcripts from Sf29 were detected in infected insects 12 h prior to those from the polyhedrin gene. Homologs to Sf29 were present in other group II NPVs, and similar sequences were present in entomopoxviruses. Analysis of the Sf29 predicted protein sequence revealed signal peptide and transmembrane domains, but the presence of 12 potential N-glycosylation sites suggest that it is not an ODV envelope protein. Other motifs, including zinc-binding and threonine-rich regions, suggest degradation and adhesion functions. We conclude that Sf29 is a viral factor that determines the number of ODVs occluded in each OB.

Mutagenesis and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the fusion peptide of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus F protein

The entry of enveloped viruses into cells is normally mediated by fusion between viral and cellular membranes, in which the fusion peptide plays a crucial role. The fusion peptides of group II nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) F proteins are quite conserved, with a hydrophobic region located at the N terminal of the F(1) fragment. For this report, we used mutagenesis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study the structure and function of the fusion peptide of the Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid NPV (HearNPV) F protein (HaF). Five mutations in the fusion peptide of HaF, N(1)G, N(1)L, I(2)N, G(3)L, and D(11)L, were generated separately, and the mutated f genes were transformed into the f-null HearNPV bacmid. The mutations N(1)L, I(2)N, and D(11)L were found to completely abolish the ability of the recombinant bacmids to produce infectious budded virus, while the mutations N(1)G and G(3)L did not. The low-pH-induced envelope fusion assay demonstrated that the N(1)G substitution increased the fusogenicity of HaF, while the G(3)L substitution reduced its fusogenicity. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the structure of a synthetic fusion peptide of HaF in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles at pH 5.0. The fusion peptide appeared to be an amphiphilic structure composed of a flexible coil in the N terminus from N(1) to N(5), a 3(10)-helix from F(6) to G(8), a turn at S(9), and a regular alpha-helix from V(10) to D(19). The data provide the first NMR structure of a baculovirus fusion peptide and allow us to further understand the relationship of structure and function of the fusion peptide.

The F protein of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus can be substituted functionally with its homologue from Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus

F proteins of group II nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are envelope fusion proteins essential for virus entry and egress. An F-null Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid NPV (HearNPV) bacmid, HaBacDeltaF, was constructed. This bacmid could not produce infectious budded virus (BV) when transfected into HzAM1 cells, showing that F protein is essential for cell-to-cell transmission of BVs. When HaBacDeltaF was pseudotyped with the homologous F protein (HaBacDeltaF-HaF, positive control) or with the heterologous F protein from Spodoptera exigua multinucleocapsid NPV (SeMNPV) (HaBacDeltaF-SeF), infectious BVs were produced with similar kinetics. In the late phase of infection, the BV titre of HaBacDeltaF-SeF virus was about ten times lower than that of HaBacDeltaF-HaF virus. Both pseudotyped viruses were able to fuse HzAM1 cells in a similar fashion. The F proteins of both HearNPV and SeMNPV were completely cleaved into F(1) and F(2) in the BVs of vHaBacDeltaF-HaF and vHaBacDeltaF-SeF, respectively, but the cleavage of SeF in vHaBacDeltaF-SeF-infected HzAM1 cells was incomplete, explaining the lower BV titre of vHaBacDeltaF-SeF. Polyclonal antisera against HaF(1) and SeF(1) specifically neutralized the infection of vHaBacDeltaF-HaF and vHaBacDeltaF-SeF, respectively. HaF(1) antiserum showed some cross-neutralization with vHaBacDeltaF-SeF. These results demonstrate that group II NPV F proteins can be functionally replaced with a homologue of other group II NPVs, suggesting that the interaction of F with other viral or host proteins is not absolutely species-specific.

Identification of a hydrophobic domain of HA2 essential to morphogenesis of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus

The HA2 protein of the Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) is a WASP homology protein capable of nucleating branched actin filaments in the presence of the Arp2/3 complex in vitro. To determine the role of ha2 in the HearNPV life cycle, ha2 knockout and ha2 repair bacmids were constructed. Transfection and infection analysis demonstrated that the ha2 null bacmid was unable to produce infectious budded virus (BV), while the repair bacmid rescued the defect. In vitro analysis demonstrated that the WCA domain of HA2 accelerates Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly and is indispensable to the function of HA2. However, analysis of the repaired recombinant with a series of truncated ha2 mutants demonstrated that the WCA domain was essential but not enough to yield infectious virions, and a hydrophobic domain (H domain) consisting of amino acids (aa) 167 to 193 played a pivotal role in the production of BV. Subcellular localization analysis with enhanced green fluorescent protein fusions showed that the H domain functioned as a nuclear localization signal. In addition, deletion of the C terminus of the ha2 product, a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase homolog, dramatically decreased the viral titer, while deletion of 128 aa from the N terminus did not affect HA2 function.

Deletion of a Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus gene encoding a virion structural protein (ORF107) increases the budded virion titre and reduces in vivo infectivity

The open reading frame Ha107 of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) encodes a putative protein of 51 kDa with homologues in a few group II NPVs and a granulovirus. Ha107 was transcribed as polyadenylated transcripts in infected HzAM1 insect cells. The transcripts were initiated at two distinct locations, one upstream of Ha106 (superoxide dismutase gene, sod) and the second upstream of Ha107. By Western blot analysis, two forms of the HA107 protein were detected in infected cells, a major polypeptide of 48 kDa and a minor one of 51 kDa. Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy analyses further showed that the HA107 protein was associated with the nucleocapsids of both budded virions (BVs) and occlusion-derived virions. A Ha107 knockout virus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein and polyhedrin was constructed using bacmid technology. A one-step virus growth curve indicated that the BV titre of the knockout virus was significantly higher than that of the parental virus and a Ha107 repair virus. Bioassays indicated that the knockout virus was able to infect third-instar H. armigera larvae; however, its median lethal dose (LD50) was significantly higher than those of the parental virus and Ha107 repair virus. These data indicate that Ha107 encodes a non-essential structural protein of HearNPV virions and that deletion of this gene increases the BV titre and LD50 of the occluded virus.

Functional role of the cytoplasmic tail domain of the major envelope fusion protein of group II baculoviruses

F proteins from baculovirus nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) group II members are the major budded virus (BV) viral envelope fusion proteins. They undergo furin-like proteolysis processing in order to be functional. F proteins from different baculovirus species have a long cytoplasmic tail domain (CTD), ranging from 48 (Spodoptera litura multicapsid NPV [MNPV]) to 78 (Adoxophyes honmai NPV) amino acid (aa) residues, with a nonassigned function. This CTD is much longer than the CTD of GP64-like envelope fusion proteins (7 aa), which appear to be nonessential for BV infectivity. Here we have investigated the functional role of the CTD of Helicoverpa armigera single-capsid NPV (HearNPV), a group II NPV. We combined a newly constructed HearNPV f-null bacmid knockout-repair system and an Autographa californica MNPV (AcMNPV) gp64-null bacmid knockout-pseudotype system with mutation and rescue experiments to study the functional role of the baculovirus F protein CTD. We show that except for the 16 C-terminal aa, the HearNPV F CTD is essential for virus spread from cell to cell. In addition, the CTD of HearNPV F is involved in BV production in a length-dependent manner and is essential for BV infectivity. The tyrosine residue Y658, located 16 aa from the C terminus, seems to be critical. However, HearNPV F without a CTD still rescues the infectivity of gp64-null AcMNPV BV, indicating that the CTD is not involved in processing and fusogenicity. Altogether, our results indicate that the F protein is essential for baculovirus BV infectivity and that the CTD is important for F protein incorporation into BV.