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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #111360

Title: FLUORESCENT BRIGHTENER INHIBITS APOPTOSIS IN LDNPV INFECTED GYPSY MOTH LARVAL MIDGUT.

Author
item Dougherty, Edward
item Narang, Neelam
item Loeb, Marcia
item Shapiro, Martin

Submitted to: American Society for Virology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fluorescent brighteners significantly lower the LC(50)and LT(50) in a variety of nuclear polyhedrosis virus-insect host systems. In the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, a European LdNPV strain does not replicate in the midgut, however midgut permissiveness is altered in the presence of fluorescent brightener(M2R). Morphological and molecular changes both in vivo and in vitro preparations of LdNPV infected midgut cells were noted. Blebbing and cellular granulation along with altered viral gene expression in LdNPV infected midgut cell cultures implicated apoptotic cell death. Using the TUNEL assay, apoptosis was measured in LdNPV infected midgut cell cultures with a maximum positive cell number at 24-48 hours p.i. A significant decrease in apoptotic midgut cells were noted in the presence of 1% M2R. Similar results were recorded in LdNPV infected larval midguts fed with 1% M2R.The inhibition of apoptosis and the presumptive inhibition of shedding of infected midgut cells in the presence of M2R in the insect midgut permits an increased enhancement of LdNPV activity in gypsy moth larvae.