Investigation of the molecular mechanism underlying efficient systemic infection of the baculovirus

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H06155
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Kokusho Ryuhei 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任研究員 (90756537)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: バキュロウイルス / 全身感染 / BmNPV / arif-1 / カイコ / 気管

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Baculoviruses are insect viruses that establish systemic infection in the body of host larvae. Previously we found that viral actin rearrangement-inducing factor 1 gene (arif-1) dramatically enhances systemic infection, but its molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we introduced several mutations in arif-1 and identified amino acid regions responsible for its function. In addition, detailed observation of infected tissues revealed the previously unknown infection route that required ARIF-1.

Free Research Field

昆虫病理学