9406471 Moyer Entomopoxviruses are poxviruses of insects and are related to the more commonly studied vertebrate poxviruses such as vaccinia. The proposed project has relevance to biotechnology, biological control, and gene expression. The PI's studies may open the way for a variety of applications including genetically engineered biopesticides, vaccines, and expression systems for foreign genes. An entomopoxvirus expression system would be a valuable tool for all these areas in much the same manner as that of other insect virus expression vectors have been. There are potential uses of entomopoxviruses in biological control of insects. Grasshopper entomopoxviruses are presently being developed for use in grasshopper control programs on rangelands. Identification of viral genes associated with natural virulence may offer clues to the control of insect populations. It is anticipated that the genetic engineering methodology developed in this project will greatly aid in the insertion of insect-specific toxin genes into entomopoxviruses to enhance their potential efficacy as biological control agents. The PI's studies may also pave the way for examination of the molecular aspects of disease production of this as yet unexploited yet very different and interesting group of viruses. ***
