Deletion analysis of all genes of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV)

Abstract

The Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) genome is 128,413 nucleotide long and was predicted to encode 136 Open Reading Frames (ORF) of over 60 amino acids. In order to determine the role each ORF in the BmNPV genome plays in the viral replicative cycle, viruses with deletions in individual ORF have been produced. For deletion mutants that were viable in cell culture, their influence on budded virus production and polyhedron formation were characterized. In addition, their contribution to the pathogenesis of infection and host behavior by examining insect larvae infected with each mutant have also been investigated.

Bombyx mori核多角体病ウイルス(BmNPV)ゲノムは、128,413ヌクレオチドで、60アミノ酸鎖長以上の開放読み取り枠(ORF)は136個あると推定された。ウイルス複製サイクルにおける各ORFの果たす役割を決定するために、個々のORF内に欠失を持つウイルスを作成した。細胞培養で増殖しえる欠失変異体については、出芽ウイルス生産とポリヘドロン形成に及ぼす欠失影響の特徴を調べた。さらに、各変異体を感染させた昆虫の幼虫を調べることで、感染による病原性と宿主の行動に対する欠失の寄与を研究した。