Cypovirus infection of embryonic Heliothis virescens cells

Cypoviruses commonly infect Lepidopteran larvae with non-lethal virulence. However, a recently discovered Heliothis virescens cypovirus has been shown to be capable of killing an alternative, parasitoid wasp host when introduced to it by parasitization of the original host, a tobacco budworm caterpillar. We have furthermore discovered that this cypovirus may exist as one of two strains or variants that differ in the structure of a specific gene segment. By infecting Heliothis virescens cell cultures with either variant, we can determine any differing degree of pathogenicity or virulence between these two strains. Infected and non-infected cell lines for both strains have been observered for differences in growth rate, RNA and protein profiles, and virus-sensitive staining. Furthermore, we can isolate infectious viral particles from these cell lines even many months after initial infection.