Generation of
Genetically Modified Baculoviruses
for Insect Pest Control

Chemical pesticides are the primary means of controlling insects in major agricultural crops in Egypt and all over the world. The major drawbacks of using chemical pesticides are environmental pollution, development of insecticide resistance and elimination of non-target and beneficial insects within the ecosystem.

Microbial pesticides play an alternative role for pest control. This class of insect pesticides includes bacteria, fungi, nematodes, viruses and protozoa.

Viruses comprise an important class of insect pathogens. The benefit of biological control by insect viruses, known as baculoviruses, has been studied for several years. Several problems arise upon the introduction of wild type baculoviruses in the field. The major problem is the long killing time. To overcome this problem several molecular biology strategies have been employed to enhance the baculoviral pathogenicity.

To date, several pesticidal genes have been inserted into the baculovirus genome and evaluated under laboratory conditions for their improved pesticidal properties. These genes include insect specific neurotoxin genes, insect hormone genes and some enzymes.

•  Isolation and molecular identification of insect-specific neurotoxin genes from Egyptian scorpion and snake. Other insect specific neurotoxin genes could be synthesized in vitro.

•  Insertion of these genes into baculoviruses genomes.

•  Studying the pathogenicity of the recombinant virus(es) by bioassay under laboratory conditions.

• Biocontainment application of the recombinant virus(es) for estimating its potential for pest control.

•  Small-scale field trials for the recombinant virus(es).

ACHIEVEMENTS

• The insect specific neurotic peptides have been identified and isolated from the Egyptian Scorpion, Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus. The identification of the entire gene is in process.

• The stichodactyla helianthus Ellis. (SAt2) insect specific neurotoxin gene have been synthesized and cloned into baculovirus expression vector under the control of the p10 promoter. This gene has been successfully inserted into the AcNPV genome by reverse genetic.