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Turkish Journal of Biology

DOI

10.3906/biy-1204-50

Abstract

Efficacy of a baculovirus as a biological control agent is evaluated according to biological parameters, median lethal dose (LD_{50}) of the virus, and median lethal time (LT_{50}) of infected larvae. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is commonly used in concentrations of 0.1%-1% to extract infective units of the baculoviruses, occlusion bodies (OBs), from infected cadavers. Although several studies have shown disruption of OB structure by SDS, the effects of SDS concentrations on baculovirus biological parameters are not well known. Indeed, it is essential to detect the optimum SDS concentration for OB extraction to compare the activity of baculoviruses accurately. In our study, the effects of SDS (0.1%-2%) on baculoviral biological activity were examined using Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus in third instar Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Use of 1% SDS in OB extraction caused the lowest LD_{50}, while higher concentrations than 1% significantly increased the LD_{50}. The differences between LT_{50} values at 0.1%-1% SDS were found to be insignificant; however, higher concentrations (>1.0%) caused significant loss of biological activity. Therefore, 0.1%-1.0% SDS could be used for OB extraction; however, evaluation of LD_{50} and LT_{50} values together suggests that 1% SDS provides the best biological activity. The mode of action of SDS on baculovirus biological activity is discussed further.

Keywords

Sodium dodecyl sulfate, baculovirus, occlusion body, lethal dose, lethal time

First Page

171

Last Page

175

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