Coinfection of Spodoptera exigua and Spodoptera frugiperda cell lines withthe nuclear polyhedrosis viruses of Autographa californica and Spodoptera exigua

The Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Ac MNPV) has a broad host range among Lepidoptera, In contrast, the Spodoptera exigua MNPV (SeMNPV) can replicate efficiently only in S. exigua larvae or S. exigua-derived cell lines. In this study, we examined the coinfection o f S. exigua Se301 and Spodoptera frugiperda IPLB-SF21AEII (Sf21) cell lines with SeMNPV and AcMNPV recombinant (Ac360-501 beta-gal) which was construc ted for expression of P-galactosidase under control of the polyhedrin promo ter. Coinfection led to the restriction as the level of late gene expressio n, nonoccluded virus production, and DNA replication of Ac360-501 beta-gal in both Se301 and Sf21 cell lines. In contrast, Ac360-501p-gnE supported th e SeMNPV replication in Sf21 cells. Occurrence of recombinants, between Ac3 60-501 beta-gal and SeMNPV, with expanded host range was not observed in co infected Sf21 cells. This suggests that Ac360-501 beta-gal supports the SeM NPV replication through trans-activation.