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Enhancing the insecticidal potential of a baculovirus by overexpressing the mammalian β‐galactosyl binding protein galectin‐1
Author(s) -
Lin ChiaYang,
Lin YuHsien,
Lin YuChun,
Hsu ChunMin,
Wu YuehLung,
Huang RongNan
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.7237
Subject(s) - biology , baculoviridae , virology , recombinant dna , spodoptera , autographa californica , virus , pest analysis , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , botany
BACKGROUND Bio‐pesticide development is an important area of research in agriculture, in which viruses are an essential tool. Infection by entomological pathogenic viruses kills agricultural pests, and viral progenies are disseminated to infect more pests, eventually achieving long‐term pest control in the field. Of the current virus‐based pest control models, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is the most studied. AcMNPV belongs to the Baculoviridae family and can infect many lepidopterans. Although AcMNPV has been previously demonstrated to be a potential pest‐control tool, its long virus infection cycle has made field applications challenging. To overcome this, we generated a recombinant baculovirus that can express mammalian galectin‐1, which is a galactoside‐binding protein that binds to the peritrophic matrix in the midgut of lepidopteran pests and induces perforation of the membrane. RESULTS Hosts infected with a recombinant virus that expressed mammalian galectin‐1 exhibited reduced appetite and died sooner in both laboratory and small‐scale field studies, suggesting that the overexpression of galectin‐1 can more efficiently eliminate pest hosts. In addition to disrupting the integrity of the peritrophic matrix, the immune system of hosts infected with recombinant baculovirus carrying the galectin‐1 gene was suppressed, making hosts more vulnerable to secondary infection. CONCLUSION Galectin‐1 has been shown to affect immune responses in mammals, including humans, but to our knowledge, the effect of galectin‐1 on insect immune systems had not been previously reported. Our results demonstrated that the pest‐control potential of baculoviruses can be improved by using a recombinant baculovirus that overexpresses mammalian galectin‐1 in hosts. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.