A New Cypovirus-1 Strain as a Promising Agent for Lepidopteran Pest Control
Vyacheslav V. Martemyanov, Yuriy B. Akhanaev, Irina A. Belousova, Sergey V. Pavlusin, Maria E. Yakimova, Daria D. Kharlamova, Alexander A. Ageev, Anna N. Golovina, С. А. Астапенко, A. V. Kolosov, Grigory G. Ananko, О. С. Таранов, Аlexander N. Shvalov, С. А. Боднев, Nikita Ershov, I. V. Grushevaya, Maxim Timofeyev, Yuri S. Tokarev
Abstract
In this article, we describe a newly discovered cypovirus strain that displays features ideally suited for the development of a modern biological insecticide: high potency, relatively broad host range, true regulating effect, flexible production (possibility to choose host species for production), interaction with enhancing adjuvants, and ecologically friendly. Based on an alignment of CPV genomes, we suggest that the enhanced host range of this new strain is the sequence of evolutionary events that occurred after coinfections involving different CPV species within the same host. These findings suggest that we need to positively reconsider CPVs as prospective agents as biocontrol products.