A novel recombinant baculovirus expressing insect neurotoxin and producing occlusion bodies that contain Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin

Abstract A novel recombinant baculovirus, designated AcB5A, was constructed to develop an improved baculovirus insecticide with additional beneficial properties. Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein gene ( cry1–5 ) and an insect-specific neurotoxin gene ( AaIT ) were introduced into the Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) genome by fusion of polyhedrin – cry1–5 – polyhedrin under the control of polyhedrin gene promoter, and by insertion of AaIT under the control of early promoter of ORF3004 from Cotesia plutellae bracovirus. RT-PCR analysis with total RNA from AcB5A-infected cells indicated that cry1–5 and AaIT genes were normally transcribed. The 150 kDa of polyhedrin–Cry1–5–polyhedrin fusion protein was produced by AcB5A and occluded into polyhedra produced by the recombinant virus. This protein was activated when treated with trypsin to form a crystal protein of approximately 65 kDa. The AcB5A showed a high level of insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella larvae and a significant reduction in the lethal time against Spodoptera exigua larvae compared to those infected with wild-type AcMNPV. The expression level of the fusion protein decreased after in vivo passage as a result of homologous recombination between the two polyhedrin genes.