Evidence for integration of Glyptapanteles indiensis polydnavirus DNA intothe chromosome of Lymantria dispar in vitro

Polydnaviruses replicate within calyx cells of the female ovaries of certai n species of parasitic wasps and are required for the successful parasitiza tion of lepidopteran hosts. These viruses, which have unusual double-strand ed circular DNA segmented genomes, are integrated as proviruses into the ge nomes of their associated wasp hosts and are believed to be transmitted ver tically through germline tissue. Here, by combined Southern hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and viral sequence analyses we provi de evidence that DNA originating from two distinct double-stranded circular segments of the polydnavirus genome from the braconid Glyptapanteles indie nsis (GiPDV) integrates in vitro into the genome of cells derived from the natural host, Lymantria dispar. The G. indiensis polydnavirus DNA, as a res ult of its unique ability to be integrated in part into the chromosome of c ells derived from its lepidopteran host, has potential to be developed as a n in vitro cell transformation system. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.