Certain donor plasmid vectors such as pFastBac™1 and pFastBac™ Dual lack a cis DNA element upstream of the polh translation start codon (ATG) present in wild type (wt) Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), and contain a SV40 pA fragment. When a cis DNA element is inserted upstream of the 50 bp polh promoter and SV40 pA was replaced with a AcMNPV polh pA signal in pFastBac™1 and pFastBac™Dual, certain protein expression levels in High Five™ cells using the Bac-to-Bac® system reached that of the wt AcMNPV.

The present invention relates to a transfer vector for inserting a gene into a genetic locus of a baculovirus sequence. The transfer vector comprises an expression cassette comprising a eukaryotic promoter operably linked to the gene and a bipartite selection cassette. The present invention also relates to methods of using the transfer vector and derived bacmids and baculoviruses.

The present invention refers to a dual vector system for production of one or more recombinant proteins in cells of insect origin comprising a first viral vector comprising a T7 promoter operably linked to a targeting sequence comprising a non-coding sequence and which expression can suppress one or more proteins essential for virus production, followed by a T7 termination sequence, and a second viral vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a T7 RNA polymerase encoding sequence, and at least one gene sequence located on the first and/or second vector encoding one or more recombinant proteins of interest. The invention further refers to recombinant insect cells comprising the dual vector system and methods for producing recombinant proteins using said dual vector CA system.

Disclosed are a novel recombinant transition vector for increasing expression of a foreign protein in a native form without fusion partners, and a method for mass production of a foreign target protein using the same. The recombinant transition vector according to the present disclosure may allow a large amount of a foreign target protein with a high therapeutic and prophylactic value to be expressed in an insect cell. In particular, the vector may increase the expression of the foreign target protein in an own form thereof, not fused with other fusion partners. Therefore, the use of the recombinant transition vector may produce useful proteins such as antigens in insect cells at low cost and high efficiency.

Compositions and methods are disclosed for producing adeno-associated virus (AAV) in insect cells in vitro. Recombinant baculovirus vectors include an AAV Capsid gene expression cassette (Cap), an AAV Rep gene expression cassette (Rep), and a baculovirus homologous region (hr) located up to about 4 kb from a start codon in an AAV expression cassette. Production levels of baculovirus and AAV in insect cells harboring recombinant baculovirus comprising a Cap, a Rep, and an hr are higher compared to controls comprising a Cap and a Rep but no hr. Furthermore, levels of baculovirus and AAV production in insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus comprising a Cap, a Rep, and an hr are comparatively stable over serial passages of cells, whereas levels of baculovirus and AAV production decline over serial passages of insect cells comprising recombinant baculovirus comprising a Cap and a Rep, but no hr.

The present disclosure relates to a heterologous recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expression system for the production of foreign heterologous proteins in insect cells. This system comprises a recombinant baculovirus backbone within a genome with a deletion in the cathepsin gene into which foreign gene cassettes can be integrated, and an insect cell that can be infected by the v-cath-rBV, and in which the foreign proteins and/or viral vectors or particles are expressed.

A nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), a composition comprising the NPV, and a method comprising the use of the NPV is provided. The NPV was isolated from Cryptophlebia peltastica and has insecticidal activity against several species of moths within the tortricid tribe, Grapholitini. The NPV or composition may be suitable for use in controlling insect populations, particularly populations of insects that infest plants.

Disclosed are a novel recombinant transition vector for increasing expression of a foreign protein in a native form without fusion partners, and a method for mass production of a foreign target protein using the same. The recombinant transition vector according to the present disclosure may allow a large amount of a foreign target protein with a high therapeutic and prophylactic value to be expressed in an insect cell. In particular, the vector may increase the expression of the foreign target protein in an own form thereof, not fused with other fusion partners. Therefore, the use of the recombinant transition vector may produce useful proteins such as antigens in insect cells at low cost and high efficiency.

The invention relates to synthetic combinations of two or more pure genotypes cloned from the Colombian wild-type Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate (NPV003=SfCOL) and to biopesticidal compositions having an active ingredient comprising at least two synthetic combinations and, optionally, a S. frugiperda granulovirus. The compositions of the invention may contain ultraviolet protectants, diluents, coating polymers, surfactants and/or pH regulators and are effective for the biological control of insects in crops, such as corn, rice, cotton, sugarcane and grasses.

Two new Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes, HearSNPV, HearSNPV-SP1B and HearSNPV-LB6, each originating from mixtures of genotypes obtained from different locations and crops, are described. Each exhibits specific insecticidal activity against H. armigera larvae comparable to that of commonly used commercial insecticides. Further, mixing the two genotypes, especially in the ratio of 1:1, within co-occluded virions of the mixed genotypes, is capable of controlling H. armigera infestations of tomato crops and is as efficacious as commonly used chemical and biological insecticides. Their use as bioinsecticides is safe for vertebrates, in that they specifically target arthropods. In addition, they are easy to produce and good yields can be obtained by orally inoculating H. armigera larvae with HearSNPV occlusion bodies.