CLONING SHRIMP BACULOVIRUS-PENAEI DNA AND HYBRIDIZATION COMPARISON WITH AUTOGRAPHA-CALIFORNICA NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS

A significant degree of specific homology between Baculovirus penaei ( BP) - from infected shrimp feces and hepatopancreas - and Autographa c alifornica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) of insects was observed by dot blot hybridization. A genomic library of BP was const ructed and some clones showed partial homology with AcMNPV DNA. Two of these clones were further characterized and one of them hybridized sp ecifically with baculovirus DNA. This baculovirus DNA may be employed as a probe for detecting BP infected shrimp.