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The economically important pale tussock moth Dasychira pudibunda L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), known as a beech pest in Europe, primarily inflicts damage on beech leaves. In the present study, we aim to reveal the genome characteristics of Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV-T1), which was detected for the first time in Turkey and compare it with the reference genome and other baculovirus genomes. The DapuNPV-T1 genome was determined to be a circular, double-stranded DNA molecule with 136,920 bp and a nucleotide distribution of 54.4% G + C. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the DapuNPV-T1 genome contains 163 open reading frames with more than 150 nucleotides. Fifty-four ORFs of unknown function, 6 homologous regions (hrs), 1 AC-rich region, and 3 bro genes (bro-a, bro-b, and bro-c) were determined in the genome sequence. Comparative analysis with other baculovirus strains revealed distinctions in the DapuNPV-T1 genome based on ORF. The gene parity plot and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that DapuNPV-T1 belongs to the alphabaculovirus group Ib. In addition, the DapuNPV-T1 isolate was found to be close to the nucleopolyhedrovirus Poland isolate in Dasychira pudibunda and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. With this study, the first genome analysis of DapuNPV from Turkey became the second in the world to enter the literature. Comprehensive information on a wide range of isolates will provide a more detailed overview of baculoviruses and help overcome their shortcomings as biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The European tent caterpillar, Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is a worldwide known pest that causes significant losses by feeding on many woody and shrub-like plants during the larval period. In this study, a Beauveria bassiana strain isolated from M. neustria larvae and characterized according to its morphological and molecular properties. Its insecticidal activity was tested on M. neustria larvae. Sequence results of partial ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) gene region identified the isolate (named as Mn1) as a B. bassiana strain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Mn1 strain displays close similarity to B. bassiana ARSEF 1848 and ARSEF 751 isolates. According to the concentration-responce tests performed using 1 × 103 – 1 × 109 conidia per mL concentrations, LC50 value of the new strain was calculated as 1 × 105 conidia per mL within 7 days against the larvae of M. neustria in the laboratory conditions. B. bassiana Mn1 strain, characterized in this study, is recorded as the first entomopathogenic fungus isolated from M. neustria, and the results showed that new strain of B. bassiana has a serious potential to be utilized as a good biocontrol agent against M. neustria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Poxviridae is divided into two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae of vertebrates and the Entomopoxvirinae of invertebrates. The Amsacta mooreientomopoxvirus (AMEV, Entomopoxvirinae) has the potential to be used in gene therapy, as an expression vector, and as a biopesticide. It was suggested that AMV248 protein is a putative glycosyltransferase (GT) but was also shown to be an attachment protein to host receptors. GTs encoded by some other viruses catalyse the binding of sugars molecules to growth hormones of the host insects rendering the hormones inactive. Consequently, larval development is arrested and frequently results in larval mortality. In this study, AMV248 protein was shown to be a GT and the purified enzyme catalysed the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP) from the substrates UDP‐glucose and UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine. This AMEV enzyme may behave much like the ecdysteroid UDP‐glucosyltransferase of baculoviruses. Various concentrations of the GT enzyme were tested for its insecticidal activity against gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It had varying deleterious effects on all test larvae but L. dispar was the most sensitive to the enzyme. While this enzyme exhibits properties with potential to be developed as an insecticide in biocontrol strategies, investigations are needed to ascertain its value in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua Hübner) is a polyphagous pest that causes significant economic losses and has a large host range that contains 170 plant species from 35 families in many countries. Feeding with leaves and fruits, S. exigua larvae cause plant growth to slow down and decrease, and significant crop losses. While various cultural, chemical, and biological methods are used for pest control, their effectiveness is low and the pest is still harmful to agricultural areas. In this study, we isolated two novel Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) strains from S. exigua larval cadavers collected from provinces of Igdir and Sanliurfa in Turkey, and named them SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U, respectively. Light microscopy confirmed that both cadavers died from baculovirus infection. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U were irregularly shaped. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that OBs of SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U were occupied with several virions in which multiple nucleocapsids were packaged by a viral envelope. Sequences and phylogenetic analyzes of polh, lef-8 and lef-9 revealed that these strains are closely related to baculoviruses isolates from Spodoptera species. Dose-response experiments with the isolates at 105-109 OBs/ml concentrations against S. exigua larvae led to varied mortality between 47% to 100%. The results of this study revealed that two local SeMNPV strains both have the potential to be used to control S. exigua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report cloning of a pectate lyase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S6 (pelS6), and biochemical characterization of the recombinant pectate lyase. PelS6 was found to be identical with B. subtilis 168 pel enzyme with 100% amino acid sequence homology. Although these two are genetically very close, they are distinctly different in physiology. pelS6 gene encodes a 421-aa protein with a molecular mass of 65,75 kDa. Enzyme activity increased from 12.8 ± 0.3 to 49.6 ± 0.4 units/mg after cloning. The relative enzyme activity of the recPel S6 ranged from 80% to 100% at pH between 4 and 14. It was quite stable at different temperature values ranging from 15 to 90 °C. The recPEL S6 showed a maximal activity at pH 10 and at 60 °C. 0.5 mM of CaCl2 is the most effective metal ion on the recPEL S6 as demonstrated by its increased relative activity with 473%. recPEL S6 remained stable at − 20 °C for 18 months. In addition recPEL S6 increased juice clarity. This study introduces a novel bacterial pectate lyase enzyme with its characteristic capability of being highly thermostable, thermotolerant, and active over a wide range of pH, meaning that it can work at both acidic and alkaline environments, which are the most preferred properties in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lackey moth, Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758), a worldwide pest, causes extensive economic losses particularly on hazelnut, plum, oak, poplar, and willow trees. A baculovirus, Malacosoma neustria nucleopolyhedrovirus (ManeNPV-T2), has been isolated from the larvae collected in Turkey and appears to have a potential as a microbial control agent. In this study, we describe the complete genome sequence of ManeNPV-T2 and compare it to other sequenced baculovirus genomes. The ManeNPV-T2 genome is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule of 130,202 bp, has 38.2% G + C, and is predicted to contain 131 putative open reading frames (ORFs) each with a coding capacity of more then 50 amino acids. There are 27 ORFs with unknown function of which 6 are unique to ManeNPV-T2. Eleven homologous regions (hrs) and two bro genes (bro-a and bro-b) were identified in the genome. There are two homologues of chaB and nicotinamide riboside kinase-1 genes, separated from themselves with a few nucleotides. Additionally, ac145, thought to be per os infectivity factor (pif) gene, is also found as two homologues. All 38 core genes are found in the ManeNPV-T2 genome. The phylogenetic tree of ManeNPV-T2 in relation to 50 other baculoviruses whose genomes have been completely sequenced showed ManeNPV-T2 to be closely related to the group II NPVs. This study expands our knowledge on baculoviruses, describes the characterization ManeNPV, and ultimately contributes to the registration of this virus as a microbial pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L., Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is one of the most serious pest of various forestal, food and industrial crops worldwide. We have characterized a new Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV-T4) variant, which was isolated from dead L. dispar larvae in Turkey. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the LdMNPV-T4 were irregularly shaped. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that OBs of LdMNPV-T4 were occupied with several virions in which multiple nucleocapsids packaged by viral envelope. Restriction analysis of the LdMNPV-T4 DNA purified from the viral inclusion bodies yielded BamHI, BglII, EcoRI and HindIII fragments. The mean size estimated for the complete LdMNPV-T4 genome was calculated to be 163.3 kb. Phylogenetic analysis of amplified polh, lef-8 and lef-9 sequences showed its relation to the other NPVs from Lymantria species. Mortality values of the LdMNPV-T4 at four different concentrations against third instar larvae of L. dispar ranged from 45% to 88%. These results suggest that LdMNPV-T4 isolated from Turkey is a promising microbial control agent to be utilized for the biological control of L. dispar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study,Lymantria dispar disparlarvae, collected from three different localities in Turkey, were examined for the presence of inclusion bodies under phase contrast and electron microscopes. Inclusion bodies from infected larvae were subjected to polymerase chain reaction using the conserved primers forpolyhedrin(polh),late expression factor8 (lef-8) andlate expression factor9 (lef-9) genes. Sequence analysis confirmed that larvae collected from the three different localities contained multiple nucleopolyhedrosis viruses (MNPVs). These isolates were designated LdMNPV-T1, LdMNPV-T2 and LdMNPV-T3. Phylogenetic analyses of these isolates were performed using target genespolh,lef-8 andlef-9. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the three geographic isolates withEcoRI andPstI enzymes demonstrated some differences existed among the isolates. According to theEcoRI profile, the mean estimated size for the complete genome of each isolate (LdMNPV-T1, LdMNPV-T2 and LdMNPV-T3) was calculated to be approximately 170, 153 and 170 kb,respectively. Insecticidal activities of each isolate were tested onL. d. disparlarvae using four different viral concentrations between 103and 106 OBs/ml. Results showed that the mortalities for LdMNPV-T1, -T2 and -T3 ranged between 13–53%, 47–100% and 46–93%, respectively. The LC50and LC95values of LdMNPV-T2 were not significantly different from the respective corresponding values of the other two isolates. However, isolate LdMNPV-T2 killed larvae with a LC50value that was lower than the other two isolates. Our results suggested there are promising LdMNPV isolates in Turkey that can be used for microbial control ofL. d. disparlarvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]