Q: baculovirus

[Steven_H Harwood]

On 14 Sep 1995, Shigeru Morikawa wrote:

> Does anyone know any paper describing that the baculovirus 
> does NOT infect other insect or/and mammamlian cells.
> Thank you in advance.
> 
> 
One of the most complete references is the following book chapter:
          
Specificity and Safety of Baculoviruses.  Groner, A.  in "The Biology of 
Baculoviruses"  (Granados, R.R. and Federici, B.A., eds)  Volume 1  pg. 
178-202  1986  CRC Press  > > 

Reading of this chapter and consultation of the references provided 
should give you a good feel for baculovirus safety issues.

The bottom line is that wt baculoviruses infect only a limited subset of 
arthropods (species dependent) and have low toxicity to mammals, fish, 
birds, reptiles, etc.  Baculoviruses can enter mammalian cells but 
do not replicate.

Steve Harwood
Dept. Agricultural Chemistry
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR  97331