title: Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus core gene ac96 encodes a per Os infectivity factor (PIF-4).
abstract: Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ac96 is a core gene, but its role in virus replication is still unknown. To determine its role in the baculovirus life cycle, we used the AcMNPV bacmid system to generate an ac96-null virus (vAc(96)(null)). Our analyses showed that the absence of ac96 does not affect budded virus (BV) production or viral DNA replication in infected Sf9 cells. Western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence analysis showed that AC96 is expressed in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus throughout infection. In addition, AC96 was detected in the envelope fractions of both BV and occlusion-derived virus. Injection of vAc(96)(null) BV into the hemocoel killed Trichoplusia ni larvae as efficiently as repaired and control viruses; however, vAc(96)(null) was unable to infect the midgut tissue of Trichoplusia ni larvae when inoculated per os. Therefore, the results of this study show that ac96 encodes a new per os infectivity factor (PIF-4).
authors.affiliation: Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia,Canada.
authors.forename: Minggang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yingchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Erlandson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Theilmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000821:virology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology*; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018411:Spodoptera; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D015678:Viral Structural Proteins