TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of DsCPV-1 Passage Through Alternative Host Manduca sexta on Its Virulence, Productivity, and Transmission Potential in Lepidopteran Forest Pests

AU - Subbotina, Anna O.

AU - Akhanaev, Yuriy B.

AU - Arzhanova, Elena L.

AU - Belousova, Irina A.

AU - Kolosov, Alexey V.

AU - Kondrashov, Boris S.

AU - Melnikova, Sofia S.

AU - Martemyanov, Vyacheslav V.

N1 - This work was supported by a grant from the State Program of the “Sirius” Federal Territory “Scientific and Technological Development of the ‘Sirius’ Federal Territory” (Agreement No. 24-03 from 27 September 2024) for infection of L. dispar and qPCR assay, and the Federal Fundamental Scientific Research Program for 2021–2025 (FWGS-2021-0003) for dose-dependent infection of D. sibiricus.

PY - 2025/11/28

Y1 - 2025/11/28

N2 - Lymantria dispar (L.) and Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv. are lepidopteran forest pest species, with a long history of outbreak dynamics. The recently isolated strain of Cypovirus—Dendrolimus sibiricus cypovirus-1 (DsCPV-1) shows potential as a bioinsecticide against these and other lepidopteran species. Manduca sexta (L.) has been identified as a promising producer of DsCPV-1. Although M. sexta offers clear advantages as an alternative host for DsCPV-1 production, the DsCPV-1 isolate passaged through M. sexta (DsCPV-Ms) produces fewer polyhedra than the original isolate. Here, we evaluated the virulence, recovery of polyhedron formation, and replication of the DsCPV-Ms in L. dispar (alternative host) and D. sibiricus (original host) larvae to assess its suitability as a biocontrol agent in these hosts. Our results demonstrate that DsCPV-Ms causes significant mortality along with efficient polyhedra synthesis in D. sibiricus larvae. In contrast, DsCPV-Ms infection of L. dispar resulted in no significant mortality despite detectable viral replication and polyhedron formation. Polyhedron formation in L. dispar was significantly lower following infection with DsCPV-Ms than with the original isolate, despite confirmed replication of DsCPV-Ms. These findings indicate that DsCPV-Ms remains effective against D. sibiricus; however, further improvements are needed before it can be applied to L. dispar.

AB - Lymantria dispar (L.) and Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv. are lepidopteran forest pest species, with a long history of outbreak dynamics. The recently isolated strain of Cypovirus—Dendrolimus sibiricus cypovirus-1 (DsCPV-1) shows potential as a bioinsecticide against these and other lepidopteran species. Manduca sexta (L.) has been identified as a promising producer of DsCPV-1. Although M. sexta offers clear advantages as an alternative host for DsCPV-1 production, the DsCPV-1 isolate passaged through M. sexta (DsCPV-Ms) produces fewer polyhedra than the original isolate. Here, we evaluated the virulence, recovery of polyhedron formation, and replication of the DsCPV-Ms in L. dispar (alternative host) and D. sibiricus (original host) larvae to assess its suitability as a biocontrol agent in these hosts. Our results demonstrate that DsCPV-Ms causes significant mortality along with efficient polyhedra synthesis in D. sibiricus larvae. In contrast, DsCPV-Ms infection of L. dispar resulted in no significant mortality despite detectable viral replication and polyhedron formation. Polyhedron formation in L. dispar was significantly lower following infection with DsCPV-Ms than with the original isolate, despite confirmed replication of DsCPV-Ms. These findings indicate that DsCPV-Ms remains effective against D. sibiricus; however, further improvements are needed before it can be applied to L. dispar.

KW - Cypovirus

KW - Dendrolimus sibiricus

KW - Lymantria dispar

KW - Manduca sexta

KW - passage

KW - polyhedra

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026007575

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/99e76c32-38a1-3df0-8ea7-5e24e8526e4c/

U2 - 10.3390/insects16121217

DO - 10.3390/insects16121217

M3 - Article

C2 - 41465655

VL - 16

JO - Insects

JF - Insects

SN - 2075-4450

IS - 12

M1 - 1217

ER -