title: Iridovirus infection of cell cultures from the Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus.
abstract: We here report the development and viral infection of a Diaprepes root weevil cell culture. Embryonic tissues of the root weevil were used to establish cell cultures for use in screening viral pathogens as potential biological control agents. Tissues were seeded into a prepared solution of insect medium and kept at a temperature of 24 degrees C. The cell culture had primarily fibroblast-like morphology with some epithelial monolayers. Root weevil cells were successfully infected in vitro with a known insect virus, Invertebrate Iridescent Virus 6. Potential uses of insect cell cultures and insect viruses are discussed.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Horticultural Research Laboratory, 2001 South Rock Rd., Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA. whunter@ushrl.ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lapointe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017994:Iridovirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D048889:Weevils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology*