title: Geographic isolates of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus: Genome sequence analysis and pathogenicity against European and Asian gypsy moth strains.
abstract: Isolates of the baculovirus species Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus have been formulated and applied to suppress outbreaks of the gypsy moth, L. dispar. To evaluate the genetic diversity in this species at the genomic level, the genomes of three isolates from Massachusetts, USA (LdMNPV-Ab-a624), Spain (LdMNPV-3054), and Japan (LdMNPV-3041) were sequenced and compared with four previously determined LdMNPV genome sequences. The LdMNPV genome sequences were collinear and contained the same homologous repeats (hrs) and clusters of baculovirus repeat orf (bro) gene family members in the same relative positions in their genomes, although sequence identities in these regions were low. Of 146 non-bro ORFs annotated in the genome of the representative isolate LdMNPV 5-6, 135 ORFs were found in every other LdMNPV genome, including the 37 core genes of Baculoviridae and other genes conserved in genus Alphabaculovirus. Phylogenetic inference with an alignment of the core gene nucleotide sequences grouped isolates 3041 (Japan) and 2161 (Korea) separately from a cluster containing isolates from Europe, North America, and Russia. To examine phenotypic diversity, bioassays were carried out with a selection of isolates against neonate larvae from three European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) and three Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar asiatica and Lymantria dispar japonica) colonies. LdMNPV isolates 2161 (Korea), 3029 (Russia), and 3041 (Japan) exhibited a greater degree of pathogenicity against all L. dispar strains than LdMNPV from a sample of Gypchek. This study provides additional information on the genetic diversity of LdMNPV isolates and their activity against the Asian gypsy moth, a potential invasive pest of North American trees and forests.
authors.affiliation: Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. Electronic address: Robert.L.Harrison@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. Electronic address: Daniel.Rowley@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.affiliation: Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 51 Mill Pond Road, Hamden, CT 06514, USA. Electronic address: mkeena@fs.fed.us.
authors.forename: Melody A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Keena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation; D009036:Moths / Q000821:virology*; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Asian gypsy moth; Baculovirus; Gypsy moth; LdMNPV; Lymantria dispar; Nucleopolyhedrovirus