The Cellular Substrate: A Very Important Requirement for Baculovirus in vitro Replication

Abstract
More than 200 primary cell lines of Cydia pomonella (codling moth) were established. Of these, 81 were selected and screened for replication of 2 baculoviruses (from 2 different subgroups): the Choristoneura murinana NPV [nuclear polyhedrosis virus] and the Cydia pomonella GV [granulosis virus]. Although all these cell lines were derived from the same insect species, they varied largely in their response to challenge with the NPV. Most of them showed CPF [cytopathic effect] or produced different amounts of polyhedra. A few cell lines were permissive for GV replication. To our knowledge this is the 1st time that GV replication in cell lines has been obtained. Cell line properties are most important for baculovirus in vitro replication.