Baculoviruses comprise an immense family of DNA-containing viruses which are found in diverse species of arthropods ranging from shrimp to mosquitoes. They are considered to be ubiquitous ina the environment and are naturally present in the human food supply. In addition to their importance in modulating arthropod populations in natural ecosystems, baculoviruses have two major applications; 1) use in the biological control of insert pests and 2) use as gene expression vectors to produce eukaryotic proteins of biomedical interest. The long range objective of this research project is to provide a molecular understanding of host range restrictions to baculovirus infection. Intermediate steps in reaching this goal are to define the molecular strategies by which baculoviruses subjugate cellular processes to achieve their full replicative potential. Of specific interest in this project is defining those baculoviral genes which exhibit host cell-specific effects on viral DNA replication and gene expression. Additional genes affecting baculovirus late and very late gene expression will be identified and athe function of previously identified genes will be further defined. The latter genes include the late expression factor genes (lefs) of Autographa californica nuclear polythedrosis virus (AcMNPV); of particular interest are the genes encoding the putative RNA polymerase subunit, lef-8, and host cell-specific factors hcf-1, ie-2, and lef-7. The molecular mechanisms by which the products of AcMNPV genes influence very late expression will also be examined; these genes include the integrase homolog vlf-1 and the protein tyrosine phosphatase homolog ptp.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI023719-13
Application #
2671866
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Project Start
1986-08-01
Project End
2001-05-31
Budget Start
1998-06-01
Budget End
1999-05-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Georgia
Department
Zoology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Athens
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30602
Wilson, Joyce A; Forney, Scott D; Ricci, Alessondra M et al. (2005) Expression and mutational analysis of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus HCF-1: functional requirements for cysteine residues. J Virol 79:13900-14
Prikhod'ko, E A; Miller, L K (1999) The baculovirus PE38 protein augments apoptosis induced by transactivator IE1. J Virol 73:6691-9
Yang, S; Miller, L K (1999) Activation of baculovirus very late promoters by interaction with very late factor 1. J Virol 73:3404-9
Prikhod'ko, G G; Wang, Y; Freulich, E et al. (1999) Baculovirus p33 binds human p53 and enhances p53-mediated apoptosis. J Virol 73:1227-34
Prikhod'ko, E A; Lu, A; Wilson, J A et al. (1999) In vivo and in vitro analysis of baculovirus ie-2 mutants. J Virol 73:2460-8
Dever, T E; Sripriya, R; McLachlin, J R et al. (1998) Disruption of cellular translational control by a viral truncated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha kinase homolog. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:4164-9
Yang, S; Miller, L K (1998) Control of baculovirus polyhedrin gene expression by very late factor 1. Virology 248:131-8
Yang, S; Miller, L K (1998) Expression and mutational analysis of the baculovirus very late factor 1 (vlf-1) gene. Virology 245:99-109
McLachlin, J R; Yang, S; Miller, L K (1998) A baculovirus mutant defective in PKIP, a protein which interacts with a virus-encoded protein kinase. Virology 246:379-91
Prikhod'ko, E A; Miller, L K (1998) Role of baculovirus IE2 and its RING finger in cell cycle arrest. J Virol 72:684-92

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