Baculovirus genetic diversity and population structure

Baculoviruses can naturally regulate lepidopteran populations and are used as biological insecticides. The genetic diversity of these viruses affects their survival and efficacy in pest control. For nucleopolyhedroviruses, occlusion-derived virions and the occlusion body facilitate the transmission...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: López Ferber, Miguel, Caballero Murillo, Primitivo, Williams, Trevor
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/54284
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/54284
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Bioinsecticide
Genotype interactions
Granulovirus
Lepidoptera
Nucleopolyhedrovirus
Pest resistance
Descripción
Sumario:Baculoviruses can naturally regulate lepidopteran populations and are used as biological insecticides. The genetic diversity of these viruses affects their survival and efficacy in pest control. For nucleopolyhedroviruses, occlusion-derived virions and the occlusion body facilitate the transmission of groups of genomes, whereas this is not the case for granuloviruses. We review the evidence for baculovirus genetic diversity in the environment, in the host insect, and in occlusion bodies and virions. Coinfection allows defective genotypes to persist through complementation and results in the pseudotyping of virus progeny that can influence their transmissibility and insecticidal properties. Genetic diversity has marked implications for the development of pest resistance to virus insecticides. We conclude that future research is warranted on the physical segregation of genomes during virus replication and on the independent action of virions during infection. We also identify opportunities for studies on the transmission of genetic diversity and host resistance to viruses.