Expression of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF76 in permissive and non-permissive cell lines by a novel Bac-to-Bac-BmNPV baculovirus expression system

Open reading frame 76 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), designated as Bm76, is a gene whose function is completely unknown. With EGFP fused to the 3' terminal of Bm76 as the reporter gene and BmNPV bacmid as the expression vector, a recombinant bacmid was successfully constructed expressing Bm76-EGFP fusion protein under the control of polyhedrin promoter in Bombyx mori cells (Bm cells), BmNPV's permissive cell line, laying the foundation for rescue experiment of Bm76 deletion mutant. Moreover, the supernatant from Bm cells transfected with the recombinant bacmid was used to infect Trichoplusia Ni cells (Tn cells), BmNPV's non-permissive cell line. Unexpectedly, the expression of Bm76-EGFP fusion protein in some Tn cells was detected, implying that viral DNA was replicated in these cells. The causes are being studied for the inability of BmNPV to produce enough viable budded viruses in Tn cells despite of viral DNA replication.