Whole genome sequence analysis of a Polish isolate of Agrotis segetum nucleopolyhedrovirus

The turnip moth, Agrotis segetum, is an important pest in many crops in Europe, Asia and Africa. Both nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and granulovirus (GV) species were isolated from this insect with biocontrol potential in the field. The genome of A. segetum GV (AgseGV) has been completely sequenced (Ai et al., 2004 NC 005839). Two different A. segetum NPVs have been isolated in the United Kingdom (AgseNPV-UK) and in Poland (AgseNPV-P). Phylogenetic analysis based on three conserved baculovirus genes, polyhedrin, late expression factor 8 (lef-8) and the per os activity factor 2 (pif-2), revealed that both isolates show an evolutionary relationship with group II NPVs and probably represent different virus species (Jakubowska et al., 2005, submitted). The genome sequence of AgseNPV-P is 147,543 bp long and has an GC-content of 45.7%. In addition to 62 genes common for lepidopteran baculoviruses, including the 29 core genes, a few ORFs unique for AgseNPV-P were found. In gene content and gene order, AgseNPV-P is strikingly similar to Spodoptera exigua (Se) MNPV. The major difference is the presence of three enhancin genes in AgseNPV-P. Few ORFs with high homology to granulovirus genes are present in AgseNPV-P, suggesting gene transfer between NPVs and GVs infecting the same host.