Heteroflocculation of Sulfate Polystyrene Latex and Anticarsia gemmatalis Nucleopolyhedrovirus as a Model System for Studying Sunlight Protection.
Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is a baculovirus widely used as a pest control agent. Data on field persistence of this microbial insecticide reveal that sunlight is the most destructive of the environmental factors. The introduction of a physical barrier to protect the baculovirus from sunlight has been proposed. In the present work we report on the coating of a baculovirus surface with a uniform layer of smaller particles. The coating was carried out at pH 3, a condition where the baculovirus surface becomes positively charged and can be covered by sulfate polystyrene latex particles. The heteroflocculation was assessed by isotherm measurements and scanning electron microscopy. High-affinity isotherms were obtained for the two sizes of latex used, and the number of latex particles bound per baculovirus was not affected when pH was changed back to neutral range (5<pH<7). Two cycles of centrifugation and washing with deionized water did not wash the sulfate polystyrene from the polyhedron surface. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
de Moraes Lessa
Marina
M
Embrapa Environment, C.P. 69, CEP, Jaguariúna, 13820-000, Brazil
Medugno
Claudia Conti
CC