Baculovirus

Baculovirus is a type of virus that primarily infects insects and other arthropods. They are large, rod-shaped viruses that can be easily seen under a light microscope. Baculoviruses are known for their complex life cycles and the large amounts of virus that can be produced in infected cells. They are also used in biotechnology, as they can be engineered to produce large amounts of proteins in insect cells.

Taxonomy

Baculoviruses belong to the family Baculoviridae, which is divided into four genera: Alphabaculovirus, Betabaculovirus, Gammabaculovirus, and Deltabaculovirus. These genera are distinguished by the type of insect they infect and the shape of the virus particle.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of baculoviruses is complex and involves both a lytic cycle and a latent cycle. In the lytic cycle, the virus infects a host cell and uses the cell's machinery to replicate its DNA and produce new virus particles. These new viruses then burst out of the cell, killing it and spreading to infect other cells. In the latent cycle, the virus integrates its DNA into the host cell's genome and lies dormant until the host cell divides.

Use in Biotechnology

Baculoviruses are used in biotechnology as a tool for protein production. They can be engineered to carry a gene of interest, which is then expressed in insect cells to produce large amounts of the protein. This method is used to produce proteins for research, as well as for the production of vaccines and other therapeutic proteins.

See Also

• Virus
• Insect
• Biotechnology
• Vaccine