Virus-based strategies for management of insect pests and insect vectored disease

Aphids and aphid transmitted plant viruses cause significant economic loss to U.S. agriculture. Current control methods rely heavily on the use of chemical insecticides for reducing aphid populations.

We are working to identify the receptor binding domains on the surface of the luteovirus Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV), that are involved in uptake of the virus from the gut into the hemocoel of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Understanding of the molecular mechanisms of recognition and uptake of plant viruses into their aphid vectors may allow for development of new technologies for management of plant virus transmission, and potentially of the aphid vectors of plant viruses. See project summary.

In collaboration with Dr. Allen Miller, we are investigating the potential for exploitation of aphid-transmitted viruses for management of aphids. See project summary.

Sivakumar, S., Wang, Z., Harrison, R.L., Liu, S., Miller, W.A. and Bonning, B.C. 2009. Baculovirus-expressed virus-like particles of Pea enation mosaic virus vary in size and encapsidate baculovirus mRNAs. Virus Res. 139:54-63.

Liu, S., Sivakumar, S., Wang, Z., Bonning, B.C., Miller, W.A. 2009. The readthrough domain of Pea enation mosaic virus is not essential for virus stability in the hemolymph of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Arch. Virol. 154 (3): 469-479

Liu, S., Bonning, B.C., Miller, W.A. 2006. A simple wax-embedding method for isolation of aphid hemolymph for detection of luteoviruses in the hemocoel. J. Virol. Methods 132 (1-2): 174-180.

Researchers: Sijun Liu, Luke Linz, Diveena Vijayendran, Narinder Pal

Pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum