Insecticidal activities of recombinant Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus containing a scorpion neurotoxin gene using promoters from Cotesia plutellae bracovirus

To investigate the usefulness of early-expressed promoters from Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) in improvement of insecticidal activities of baculovirus, recombinant AcNPVs, Ac3003ProAaIT, Ac3004ProAaIT, Ac3005ProAaIT and Ac3006ProAaIT expressing scorpion neurotoxin, AaIT, under the control of ORF3003, ORF3004, ORF3005 and ORF3006 promoter, respectively were constructed. Among these recombinant viruses, Ac3006ProAaIT showed highest insecticidal activity against 3rd instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua. These results suggested that early promoters from CpBV could be successfully applied to improve pathogenicity of baculoviruses.