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Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition

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A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Invertebrate Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 7380

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Miguel López-Ferber

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Guest Editor

Hydrosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, CNRS, IRD, Ales, France
Interests: baculovirus genetic diversity; virus-host interactions; biological control with viruses
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interest in the previous Special Issues on this topic prompted us to re-open the subject for a new Special Issue. Most countries are making attempts to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides they use, but the number of tools available for controlling insect pests is still limited. Insects are major pests not only for agricultural crops but also for domestic animals and humans. Viruses offer alternatives for safe and environmentally friendly insect pest control, using various strategies. Baculoviruses have been used as biological control agents and have proven successful against various insect pests. Viruses that infect insects belonging to other families have been proposed and are under evaluation for their safety, specificity, and efficacy in the control of their insect hosts. This Special Issue aims to present the state of the art on the practical use of viruses in pest control and the new approaches under development.

Prof. Dr. Miguel López-Ferber
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

insect-specific viruses
pest control
virus-based biocontrol agents
quality control
industrial production
resistance development to virus-based biocontrol agents

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Related Special Issues

Insect Viruses and Pest Management in Viruses (21 articles)
Insect Viruses and Pest Management 2.0 in Viruses (13 articles)

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Individual and Combined Entomopathogenic Activity of a Spodoptera frugiperda Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus and a Type I Spodoptera frugiperda Granulovirus on S. frugiperda Larvae

by Magali Ordóñez-García, Juan Carlos Bustillos-Rodríguez, José de Jesús Ornelas-Paz, Miguel Ángel Salas-Marina, Octavio Jhonathan Cambero-Campos, Carlos Horacio Acosta-Muñiz, David Ignacio Berlanga-Reyes and Claudio Rios-Velasco

Viruses 2025, 17(5), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17050674 - 5 May 2025

Viewed by 291

Abstract

The bioinsecticidal activity of several doses of a Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV-CH-32; LD₁₀, LD₅₀, and LD₉₀) and a Type I Spodoptera frugiperda granulovirus (SfGV-CH13; LD₅₀ and LD₉₀), alone and in co-infection, was evaluated on S. frugiperda larvae. In the co-infection assays, one virus was applied at 0 h, and then the second virus was supplied at different times (0, 12, and 24 h) in order to test the effect of the co-infection time on the insecticidal activity of the viruses. The symptoms observed in the co-infected larvae depended on the viral dose supplied at 0 h. The larvae treated with the highest dose (LD₉₀) of SfMNPV-CH32 and co-infected with SfGV-CH13 at LD₅₀ showed symptoms of nucleopolyhedrovirus infection at 14 days post-infection. The larvae initially infected with the highest dose of SfGV-CH13 (LD₉₀) and subsequently co-infected with SfMNPV-CH32 (LD₅₀ and LD₁₀) showed infection symptoms characteristic of both viruses. The insecticidal activity of SfGV-CH13 and SfMNPV-CH32 alone or in combination depended on the viral doses and the time elapsed between the first and second inoculation. An antagonistic effect was observed for most of the treatments tested. A synergistic effect was observed only in treatment 10, where the larvae were first infected with SfMNPV-CH32 at a high dose (LD₉₀) and inoculated 24 h later with SfGV-CH13 (LD₅₀). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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13 pages, 2250 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

La Jolla Virus: The Pathology and Transmission in Its Host Drosophila suzukii

by Ibrahim Abdelhafiz, Tobias Kessel, Andreas Vilcinskas and Kwang-Zin Lee

Viruses 2025, 17(3), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030408 - 13 Mar 2025

Viewed by 531

Abstract

Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as spotted-wing drosophila, has emerged as a highly destructive pest in global fruit and wine production. The effectiveness of chemical control is significantly compromised by rapid resistance development and a limited range of insecticide options. Biological control presents a promising sustainable alternative. Our previous work suggested the La Jolla Virus (LJV) as a suitable candidate for the development of an insect virus-based control option. Here, we characterized the natural transmission and pathology of the virus. We tested various modes of horizontal transmission, including airborne, venereal and oral, and fecal routes. To understand LJV pathology in infected flies, we studied feeding behavior and demonstrated changes in food absorption compared to non-infected flies. We also investigated the impact on fecundity and egg-to-adult success rate. Altogether, these results collectively improve our understanding of LJV transmission in natural populations and the implication of infected flies in food ingestion and overall fitness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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15 pages, 1394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fecal Transmission of Spodoptera frugiperda Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV; Baculoviridae)

by Eduardo Ávila-Hernández, Cindy S. Molina-Ruiz, Juan S. Gómez-Díaz and Trevor Williams

Viruses 2025, 17(3), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030298 - 21 Feb 2025

Viewed by 445

Abstract

The production of viable nucleopolyhedrovirus in the feces of infected lepidopteran larvae represents a poorly understood route for virus transmission prior to host death. In the present study, we examined the presence of viable virus in the feces of fourth-instar Spodoptera frugiperda larvae infected with the Nicaraguan isolate of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV-NIC). Feces production increased in samples taken at 2 to 6 days post-inoculation but was significantly lower in infected insects compared to controls. Second instars experienced 3.9 to 68.3% of polyhedrosis disease following consumption of feces collected at 2–5 days post-inoculation, which subsequently fell to 29.1% in the 6-day sample. Calibration of the insect bioassay using OB-spiked samples of feces indicated that the concentration of OBs varied between 5.4 × 10² and 4.4 × 10⁵ OBs/100 mg of feces in infected fourth instars. Quantitative PCR analysis of fecal samples indicated the presence of 0 to 7629 copies/mg feces following amplification targeted at the polyhedrin gene. However, no correlation was detected between qPCR estimates of virus concentration and time of sample collection or the quantity of feces collected. The qPCR estimates were positively correlated with the prevalence of lethal infection observed in the insect bioassay, but the correlation was weak and several samples did not amplify. Calibration of the qPCR assay using OB-spiked samples of feces provided estimates that were 5- to 10-fold lower than the insect bioassay, indicating inhibition of the amplification reaction or loss of material during processing. In a greenhouse experiment, 2.5–48.3% of second-instar larvae acquired lethal infection following a 24 h period of feeding on maize plants on which fourth instar larvae had deposited their feces at 3 days and 4 days post-infection, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of OB-contaminated feces as a source of biologically significant quantities of inoculum for virus transmission prior to the death of infected insects and represent an additional contribution to the biological control of lepidopteran pests by these pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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20 pages, 4176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals a Diverse Range of Novel Viruses in Australian Sugarcane Soldier Fly (Inopus flavus) Larvae

by Gayatri Divekar, Agathe M. G. Colmant, Michael J. Furlong and Kayvan Etebari

Viruses 2024, 16(4), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040516 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1607

Abstract

In Australia, Soldier flies (Inopus spp.) are economically significant pests of sugarcane that currently lack a viable management strategy. Despite various research efforts, the mechanisms underlying the damage caused by soldier fly larvae remain poorly understood. Our study aims to explore whether this damage is associated with the transmission of plant viruses during larval feeding. We also explore the larval transcriptome to identify any entomopathogenic viruses with the potential to be used as biocontrol agents in future pest management programs. Seven novel virus sequences are identified and characterised using de novo assembly of RNA-Seq data obtained from salivary glands of larvae. The novel virus sequences belong to different virus families and are tentatively named SF-associated anphevirus (SFaAV), SF-associated orthomyxo-like virus (SFaOV), SF-associated narna-like virus (SFaNV), SF-associated partiti-like virus (SFaPV), SF-associated toti-like virus (SFaTV-1 and SFaTV-2) and SF-associated densovirus (SFaDV). These newly identified viruses are more likely insect-associated viruses, as phylogenetic analyses show that they cluster with other insect-specific viruses. Small RNA analysis indicates prominent peaks at both 21 nt and 26–29 nt, suggesting the activation of host siRNA and piwiRNA pathways. Our study helps to improve understanding of the virome of soldier flies and could identify insect viruses for deployment in novel pest management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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16 pages, 1969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bactericera cockerelli Picorna-like Virus and Three New Viruses Found Circulating in Populations of Potato/Tomato Psyllids (Bactericera cockerelli)

by Jennifer Dahan, Gardenia E. Orellana, Kaleigh B. Wald, Erik J. Wenninger, W. Rodney Cooper and Alexander V. Karasev

Viruses 2024, 16(3), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030415 - 8 Mar 2024

Viewed by 2168

Abstract

An investigation of viruses circulating in populations of field and laboratory potato/tomato psyllids (Bactericera cockerelli) was conducted using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology and conventional RT-PCR. Three new viruses were discovered: one from the family Tymoviridae and two from the family Solemoviridae. A tymo-like virus sequence represented a nearly complete 6843 nt genome of a virus named Bactericera cockerelli tymo-like virus (BcTLV) that spanned five open reading frames (ORFs) which encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), helicase, protease, methyltransferase, and a capsid protein. Phylogenetic analyses placed the RdRP of BcTLV inside a divergent lineage of the viruses from the family Tymoviridae found in insect and plant hosts in a sister clade to the genera Tymovirus, Marafivirus, and Maculavirus. Four solemo-like virus sequences were identified in the HTS outputs, representing two new viruses. One virus found only in field-collected psyllids and named Bactericera cockerelli solemo-like virus 1 (BcSLV-1) had a 5479 nt genome which spanned four ORFs encoding protease and RdRP. Three solemo-like sequences displayed 87.4–99.7% nucleotide sequence identity among themselves, representing variants or strains of the same virus named Bactericera cockerelli solemo-like virus 2 (BcSLV-2). The genome of BcSLV-2 spanned only two ORFs that encoded a protease and an RdRP. Phylogenetic analysis placed the RdRPs of BcSLV-1 and BcSLV-2 in two separate lineages as sister clades to viruses from the genus Sobemovirus found in plant hosts. All three new psyllid viruses were found circulating in psyllids collected from potato fields in southern Idaho along with a previously identified Bactericera cockerelli picorna-like virus. Any possible role of the three viruses in controlling populations of the field psyllids remains to be elucidated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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Review

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19 pages, 1766 KiB

Open AccessReview

Baculovirus Genetic Diversity and Population Structure

by Miguel López-Ferber, Primitivo Caballero and Trevor Williams

Viruses 2025, 17(2), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17020142 - 22 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 967 | Correction

Abstract

Baculoviruses can naturally regulate lepidopteran populations and are used as biological insecticides. The genetic diversity of these viruses affects their survival and efficacy in pest control. For nucleopolyhedroviruses, occlusion-derived virions and the occlusion body facilitate the transmission of groups of genomes, whereas this is not the case for granuloviruses. We review the evidence for baculovirus genetic diversity in the environment, in the host insect, and in occlusion bodies and virions. Coinfection allows defective genotypes to persist through complementation and results in the pseudotyping of virus progeny that can influence their transmissibility and insecticidal properties. Genetic diversity has marked implications for the development of pest resistance to virus insecticides. We conclude that future research is warranted on the physical segregation of genomes during virus replication and on the independent action of virions during infection. We also identify opportunities for studies on the transmission of genetic diversity and host resistance to viruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Viruses and Pest Management, the Third Edition)

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