Martin Shapiro

Replication of the entomopoxvirus from Amsacta moorei in serum-free cultures of a gypsy moth cell line.

Abstract The entomopoxvirus isolated from Amsacta moorei (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) replicated to the mature occluded stage during six serial passages in the serum-free cultured cells of a continuous cell line (IPLB-LD-652) from the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Replication of the virus in cells grown in serum-free RIL-14 (Table 1) medium was similar to replications of the same virus observed in the same and other susceptible cell lines in various serum-containing media. Virus developmental stages are described from cells grown in serum-free medium after virus passages two and six, and from cells in vivo from gypsy moth larval fat body infected by intrahemocoelic inoculation with extracellular virus from infected cultures of the same cell line.

Sunlight ultraviolet protection of the Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus through starch-encapsulation technology.

In laboratory experiments, starch-encapsulated formulations of Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HzSNPV) with and without an ultraviolet radiation protectant, were exposed on glass coverslips to simulated sunlight ultraviolet (SUV). All SUV-exposed, starch-encapsulated formulations of HzSNPV containing a protectant were significantly more active against larvae of the noctuid Heliothis virescens than controls without the protectant.

Relative Effectiveness of Selected Stilbene Optical Brighteners as Enhancers of the Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Abstract The addition of a stilbene optical brightener, Tinopal LPW, at 1% concentration (wt:wt) significantly reduced the LC50 of the beet armyworm nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SeMNPV) from 2.9 PIB/mm2 to 0.02 PIB/mm2. Moreover, the LT50 of SeMNPV was reduced by 34% by the addition of Tinopal LPW. Seven other structurally related stilbene brighteners were also tested as viral enhancers. Five of these brighteners (Tinopal LPW, Blankophor BBH, Blankophor HRS, Blankophor P167, and Blankophor RKH) reduced LD50s, whereas three brighteners (Blankophor BSU, Blankophor DML, and Blankophor LPG) had little effect. Among the active brighteners, LC50s were reduced by 10.5-fold (Blankophor P167), 52.4-fold (Blankophor RKH), 87.3-fold Tinopal LPW), 131-fold (Blankophor BBH), and >400-fold (Blankophor HRS). LT50s were also decreased by the addition of Blankophor BBH, Blankophor P167, and Blankophor RKH, but were increased by the addition of Blankophor BSU, Blankophor DMLO, and Blankophor LPG to SeMNPV suspensions.

Nucleopolyhedrosis of Heliothis: Morphological description of inclusion bodies and virions

Abstract Polyhedral inclusion bodies of the Heliothis nucleopolyhedrosis of Heliothis zea average 916.4 ± 9.5 mμ in diameter with a range from 300 to 2240 mμ. No prominent surface patterns or structures are evident on unpurified inclusions. Purified inclusions can be severely etched revealing virion sockets. The rod-shape virions, which are individually occluded, average 336 ± 22 × 62 ± 4 mμ.