AcMNPV

AcMNPV is a member of the Baculoviridae family, a large dsDNA virus that infects insects, particularly lepidopteran larvae. It stands for Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. It was first isolated from the alfalfa looper (Autographa californica) and has become a model organism for baculovirus studies. The virus is classified as a group II nucleopolyhedrovirus and is characterized by two virion forms: budded viruses (BV) for cell-to-cell spread within the host and occlusion-derived viruses (ODV) for oral infection.

The genome of AcMNPV is a single circular dsDNA molecule of approximately 134 kilobase pairs, encoding over 150 open reading frames. Genes are organized into functional modules involved in DNA replication, transcription, virion assembly, and host interaction. The virus replicates in the nucleus of infected cells, producing occlusion bodies that consist of polyhedral protein (polyhedrin) and embed numerous ODV particles. These occlusion bodies protect the virus from environmental degradation and facilitate transmission between insects.

AcMNPV has been widely used as a eukaryotic expression vector in biotechnology. Its polyhedrin promoter drives high-level expression of heterologous genes in insect cells, enabling production of recombinant proteins, vaccines, and biopesticides. The virus is also employed in gene delivery and functional genomics studies due to its broad host range and capacity for foreign DNA insertion.

Research on AcMNPV has contributed to understanding of viral gene regulation, host–pathogen interactions, and insect immunity. Its application in pest control has been explored, but concerns about environmental persistence and non-target effects have limited commercial deployment.

Overall, AcMNPV remains a cornerstone of baculovirology and a versatile tool in molecular biology and biotechnology.