Yugo Hayashi

Serological investigations of insect viruses. I. Comparison of three highly purified cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis viruses.

Abstract Cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis viruses from Bombyx mori, Malacosoma disstria , and Orgyia leucostigma were isolated and purified by zonal sucrose gradient centrifugation. They were tested in double diffusion and immunoelectrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes. It was found that the viruses from M. disstria and O. leucostigma are very closely related, and share at least five antigens one of which, at least, is shared with the virus from B. mori .

Serological comparison of ribosomal and viral components

Abstract Subcellular microsomal subfractions such as whole ribosomes, rough membranes, and smooth membranes, from healthy silkworm larvae and from those infected with cytoplasmic polyhedrosis, were prepared. Ribosomal preparations from healthy and diseased insects could not be serologically distinguished by the method of double diffusion on cellulose acetate membranes. Antisera against cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses appeared to share at least one antigen with the ribosomes from healthy and larvae of diseased silkworm and guinea-pig liver.

Isolation of a cystoplasmic-polyhedrosis virus of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract Larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, infected with cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis virus were used as a source of viral material. Sucrose gradient centrifugation was used to isolate free virions from the cytoplasm as well as those liberated from polyhedra by treatment with weak alkali. In order to trace the rate of development of the virus, viral RNA was labeled with uridine-3H and viral protein with 14C-amino acid. The virions were resistant to deoxycholate; also to alkali at pH 11.0 at room temperature, but they deteriorated at pH 11.0 at 40°C.

Specificity of serological cross-reactions between insect viruses and ribosomes

Abstract Ribosomes from guinea pig liver, Cavia cobaya; frog liver, Rana pipiens; midgut of the silkworm, Bombyx mori; an earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris; a bacterium, Escherichia coli; a fungus of the genus Lactarius; and also the synthetic polyribonucleotides poly A and poly U were serologically compared with the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses from Bombyx mori, the tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria, and the tussock moth Orgyia leucostigma. The method of double diffusion on cellulose acetate membranes was used. Extensive cross-reactivity was observed, and it is attributed to the ribose phosphate backbone of RNA as a common antigen.