Multiplication of Spodoptera littoralis granulosis virus in a cell line established from Phthorimaea operculella.

A complete replication of the Spodoptera littoralis granulosis virus (SpliGV) was obtained, in vitro by both virus infection and DNA transfection in the ORS-Pop-95 (Pop-95) cell line established from embryonic cells of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella. SpliGV multiplied significantly during several passages in Pop-95 cells at 19 degrees C. When the cells were infected and kept at 19 degrees C for the first 4 hrs and then at 27 degrees C for the rest of the experiment (20 days), the viral multiplication proceeded at the same rate. Comparison of SpliGV progenies, multiplied either in vivo or in vitro, using electron microscopy and restriction profile analysis, showed their identity.