title: Molecular characterization of nucleopolyhedrovirus of three lepidopteran pests using late expression factor-8 gene.
abstract: A PCR based method for detection of viral DNA in nucleopolyhedrovirus of three lepidopterans, Spodoptera litura, Amsacta albistriga and Helicoverpa armigera, was developed by employing the late expression factor-8 (lef-8) gene of three NPV using specific primers. The amplicons of 689, 699 and 665 bp were amplified, respectively, and the nucleotide sequences were submitted to GenBank and the accession numbers were obtained. The sequences of lef-8 gene of S. litura NPV and H. armigera NPV matched with those of their respective references in the GenBank database, thereby confirming their identity, however, the sequence of A. albistriga NPV was the first sequence submitted to the GenBank database. The sequence similarity analysis between the three lef-8 gene of NPV sequenced in the present study revealed that there was no significant similarity between them, however A. albistriga NPV and S. litura NPV were found to be closely related. CLUSTAL alignment of the sequences generated revealed general relatedness among NPVs lef-8 gene. The study confirmed that lef-8 gene can be used for quick and correct discriminatory identification of insect viruses.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Entomology Laboratory, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560024 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: Jency
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Molecular Entomology Laboratory, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560024 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Molecular Entomology Laboratory, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560024 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shivalingaswamy
authors.affiliation: Molecular Entomology Laboratory, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560024 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: N K Krishna
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067 India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.affiliation: National Fund for Basic Strategic and Frontier Application Research in Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, KAB-I, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012 India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
keywords: Late expression gene; Lepidopterans; Nucleopolyhedrovirus