Abstract—Four new cell lines from pupal ovaries of Spodoptera exigua were established. These cell lines consisted of round and spindle-shaped cells. The cell lines were examined for their population doubling time and susceptibility to the homologous virus, S. exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV). One cell line, designated KU-SEPO-2 (SEPO2), had significantly shorter population doubling time than that of other cell lines. The results and observations strongly indicated that the susceptibility of the cell lines to SeMNPV varied from fully susceptible to resistant. The SEPO2 cell line was highly susceptible to SeMNPV. By 5 days postinfection (pi), 100% of the cells contained occlusion bodies (OBs). Ultrastructural studies showed that SeMNPV replication and OB formation in the infected SEPO2 cells were similar to that normally observed in vivo. This pupal ovarian cell line derived from S. exigua had distinct characteristics in growth and susceptibility to the homologous virus. The availability of this cell line will provide a useful tool for the basic research on NPVs and for future studies of virus-host cell interactions.

 

Index Terms—Spodoptera exigua, nucleopolyhedrovirus, insect cell culture, pupal ovaries, electron microscopy

Cite: Sudawan Chaeychomsri, Win Chaeychomsri, Jindawan Siruntawineti, Motoko Ikeda, and Michihiro Kobayashi, "Establishment of New Cell Lines from Pupal Ovaries of Spodoptera exigua with Differential Susceptibility to Homologous Nucleopolyhedrovirus," Journal of Advanced Agricultural Technologies, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 281-288, December 2018. Doi: 10.18178/joaat.5.4.281-288