Incorporation of ChiA into AcMNPV occlusion bodies and its implications for oral infectivity

Summary Baculoviruses are insect-specific viruses primarily employed in biological pest control and recombinant protein expression. As biopesticides, they offer numerous advantages over chemical pesticides and hold significant potential for application in integrated pest management (IPM). However, their slower action compared to conventional synthetic strategies has limited their widespread adoption. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating a viral protein, AcChiA chitinase, which disrupts the gut peritrophic membrane of susceptible insects, into AcMNPV occlusion bodies in trans. This was achieved through the development of an insect cell line that facilitates the passive incorporation of this protein. The presence of ChiA was detected in dissolved occlusion bodies (OBs) preparations from infected transgenic lines, in a method-dependent manner, with the stronger signals observed in chimeric polyhedra. It is hypothesized that ChiA in OBs will increase peritrophic membrane permeability and facilitate primary infection. In bioassays, OBs produced in ChiA-expressing lines were associated with higher larval mortality than OBs produced in Sf9, consistent with a ChiA-mediated effect. Notably, the addition of ChiA proteins from stably transformed insect cell lines improved infection rates, particularly in recombinant baculoviruses, which exhibited a significant reduction in occlusion-derived virion (ODV) occlusion. This underscores the critical role of these proteins in the oral infection process. Consequently, it was possible to incorporate the ChiA protein from stably transformed insect cell lines into wild-type and recombinant baculovirus occlusion bodies, paving the way for potential applications in IPM with AcMNPV. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.