wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
(AcMNPV)
Test code:
S0276 -
Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Autographa
californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) - wild
type, by real
time PCR
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV)
belongs to the family Baculoviridae. It is classified as a
nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) because it produces large
proteinaceous occlusion bodies known as polyhedra within
infected cells, that contain many virions. The virus has a
circular double-stranded DNA genome, approximately 134 kilobases
in length, encoding roughly 150 to 156 genes. During its life
cycle, AcMNPV produces two distinct types of rod-shaped virions:
the budded virus (BV), which spreads infection from cell to cell
within the insect host, and the occlusion-derived virus (ODV),
which is embedded within polyhedra and facilitates transmission
between insect hosts in the environment.
AcMNPV primarily infects lepidopteran insects (moths and butterflies),
with its original and natural host being the alfalfa looper (Autographa
californica). It is highly pathogenic to many species’
caterpillars and is utilized as a biological insecticide.
In biotechnology, AcMNPV is best known as the foundation of the
baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). Scientists use
genetically modified versions of the virus to produce large
quantities of recombinant proteins in insect cell lines such as
Sf9 and High Five cells. This system is widely employed for
manufacturing vaccines (including certain influenza and COVID-19
vaccines), enzymes, antibodies, and virus-like particles (Hong
et al., 2023). Typically, one of the virus’s non-essential
genes, most commonly the polyhedrin gene, is replaced with a
gene of interest, effectively turning the insect cells into
efficient protein production factories.
In short, AcMNPV serves as both a natural insect pathogen and one of the
most powerful and safe tools in modern molecular biology and
protein production. Detection of the virus is usually performed
using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Rowley et al., 2011)..
Utilities:
-
Detect this virus in insect samples
-
Monitor for the presence of this virus in laboratory
processed and biological products
References:
Hong Q, Liu J, Wei Y, Wei X. Application of
Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) in Vaccine
Development. Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Jul 8;11(7):1218.
Rowley DL, Popham HJ,
Harrison RL. Genetic variation and virulence of
nucleopolyhedroviruses isolated worldwide from the heliothine
pests Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa zea, and Heliothis
virescens. J Invertebr Pathol. 2011 Jun;107(2):112-26.
Specimen requirements:
Fresh, frozen
or fixed insect tissue; or o.2 ml cell culture.
Contact Zoologix
if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type
for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen
types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm
specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
