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.

Production of virus occlusion bodies that occlude virions comprising genomes of different species of baculoviruses that can be used to combat insect pests. A method is presented for the production of occlusion derived virions (ODVs) that simultaneously comprise genomes of different baculovirus species, occluded in a viral occlusion body (OB) with the structural and morphological features characteristic of baculoviruses. Mixed genome ODVs and OBs can be produced by co-infecting insect cells or insect hosts using two or more different baculoviruses species. Co-infection may be achieved by simultaneous inoculation of the different baculoviruses or with a time interval between inoculations, which results in different proportions of each species' genomes in the ODVs and OBs that are produced. The produced OBs can be used either directly for preparing an insecticide, or to infect susceptible insects to produce larger quantities of mixed genome ODVs and OBs, also useful for combating pest insects.

The present invention may be included in the field of biotechnology and it covers the improved production of recombinant proteins in insect cells or insect larvae as biofactories by a novel expression cassette. This expression cassette comprises nucleic acid sequences such as promoters, homologous regions (hr) as enhancers, and sequences encoding transcriptional regulators, for example, the baculovirus Ac-ie-01 cDNA, or any combination thereof, which are able to increase the quality and production efficiency of the recombinant proteins. Moreover, the present invention is also directed to the vectors themselves comprising the above mentioned nucleic acid sequences of the invention, cells or insects infected, transformed or transfected with those sequences or vectors, and methods for producing the recombinant proteins by using the aforesaid sequences, vectors, cells or insects.

New Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearSNPV) genotypes, method of producing same and use as a biological control agent

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.

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.

Provided is a Spodoptera frugiperda pupa ovary cell line with high Baculovirus production. The cell line has the name of IOZCAS-Sf-1 and the deposit number of CGMCC No. 21014. Further disclosed are a method for preparing the cell line and the use of the cell line in the large-scale growth of the Baculovirus. The cell line can be used for replicating the Baculovirus, for the large-scale production of Baculovirus insecticides and for constructing a Baculovirus expression vector system.