Insect-specific RNA viruses detection in Field-Caught Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Argentina using NGS technology.

Mosquitoes are the primary vectors of arthropod-borne pathogens. Aedes aegypti is one of the most widespread mosquito species worldwide, responsible for transmitting diseases such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, among other medically significant viruses. Characterizing the array of viruses circulating in mosquitoes, particularly in Aedes aegypti, is a crucial tool for detecting and developing novel strategies to prevent arbovirus outbreaks.

Reduction of the infectivity of baculovirus stocks frozen at ultra-low temperature in serum-free media: The role of lipid emulsions.

The infectivity of stocks of baculoviruses produced in serum-free media is sensitive to freezing at ultra-low temperatures. The objective of this work was to elucidate the causes of such sensitivity, using as a model the freezing of stocks of Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV), a baculovirus widely employed as biological insecticide. Titers of supernatants of cell cultures infected with AgMNPV in four different serum-free media supplemented with lipid emulsions were reduced by 50 to 90% after six months freezing.

Growth, metabolism and baculovirus production in suspension cultures of an Anticarsia gemmatalis cell line.

The UFL-AG-286 cell line, established from embryonic tissue of the lepidopteran insect Anticarsia gemmatalis, has been identified as a good candidate to be used as a cellular substrate in the development of a process for in vitro production of the Anticarsia gemmatalis multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, a baculovirus widely used as bioinsecticide. In order to characterize the technological properties of this cell line and evaluate its feasibility to use it for the large-scale production of Anticarsia gemmatalis multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, UFL-AG-286 cells were adapted to grow as agitated suspension cultures in spinner-flasks. Batch suspension cultures of adapted cells in serum-supplemented TC-100 medium grew with a doubling time of about 29 h and reached a maximum cell density higher than 3.