title: Comparative genomic sequence analysis of novel Helicoverpa  armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) isolated from Kenya  and three other previously sequenced Helicoverpa spp. NPVs.
abstract: A newly cloned Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) from Kenya, HearNPV-NNg1, has a higher insecticidal activity than HearNPV-G4, which also exhibits lower insecticidal activity than HearNPV-C1. In the search for genes and/or nucleotide sequences that might be involved in the observed virulence differences among Helicoverpa spp. NPVs, the entire genome of NNg1 was sequenced and compared with previously sequenced genomes of G4, C1 and Helicoverpa zea single-nucleocapsid NPV (Hz). The NNg1 genome was 132,425 bp in length, with a total of 143 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and shared high levels of overall amino acid and nucleotide sequence identities with G4, C1 and Hz. Three NNg1 ORFs, ORF5, ORF100 and ORF124, which were shared with C1, were absent in G4 and Hz, while NNg1 and C1 were missing a homologue of G4/Hz ORF5. Another three ORFs, ORF60 (bro-b), ORF119 and ORF120, and one direct repeat sequence (dr) were unique to NNg1. Relative to the overall nucleotide sequence identity, lower sequence identities were observed between NNg1 hrs and the homologous hrs in the other three Helicoverpa spp. NPVs, despite containing the same number of hrs located at essentially the same positions on the genomes. Differences were also observed between NNg1 and each of the other three Helicoverpa spp. NPVs in the diversity of bro genes encoded on the genomes. These results indicate several putative genes and nucleotide sequences that may be responsible for the virulence differences observed among Helicoverpa spp., yet the specific genes and/or nucleotide sequences responsible have not been identified.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biodynamics, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Javier Gordon
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ogembo
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Caoili
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shikata
authors.forename: Sudawan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaeychomsri
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D007630:Kenya; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D026801:Synteny; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D037521:Virulence Factors