Replication and inclusion body characteristics of two Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus plaque variants

Propagation of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus in cell culture results in the generation of a mutant virus, termed few polyhedra. This plaque variant is characterized by a high budded virus titer, the formation of few polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIBs), and the production of PIBs exhibiting a low potency against its natural host. The isolation and study of a few polyhedra variant of Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdNPV) could lead to a means of enhancing viral potency against the gypsy moth.