Compositions and methods for pest control management

Abstract

Disclosed are genetically modified nudiviruses capable of being sexually transmitted by an insect useful for controlling pest populations. The genetically modified nudiviruses are capable of causing sterility in a target population of insects. Also disclosed are insects infected with the disclosed genetically modified nudiviruses, methods of making the genetically modified nudiviruses, and methods of using the genetically modified nudiviruses to control an insect pest population.

1 . A genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus having at least about 80% sequence identity to a wild type  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus,
 wherein said genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) has a mutation in a region selected from Open Reading Frame 90 (ORF90), Open Reading Frame 92 (ORF92), Persistance-associated Gene (pag1), or a combination thereof,   wherein said mutation disrupts expression of the gene product encoded by said mutant region and wherein said mutation increases the rate of an agonadal phenotype in a progeny of a moth infected with said genetically modified HzNV-2 as compared to a progeny of a moth infected with a wild-type HzNV-2 virus.   
     
     
         2 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HZNV 2 has at least about 85% sequence identity to wild type  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said moth is a moth from the Noctuidae family. 
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HzNV-2 virus is achieved via chemical mutagenesis. 
     
     
         11 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HzNV-2 virus is achieved via recombinant DNA technology. 
     
     
         12 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HzNV-2 virus is achieved via gene editing technology. 
     
     
         13 . A method of reducing a population of lepidopteran moths, comprising the step of introducing a moth infected with the virus of  claim 1  into said population, wherein said moth is a moth from the Noctuidae family. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A moth infected with the genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said moth is a moth from the Noctuidae family. 
     
     
         17 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of protecting a crop susceptible to a moth pest from said moth pest damage, comprising the step of introducing a moth infected with the genetically modified nudivirus of  claim 1  into said crop. 
     
     
         24 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HZNV-2 has at least about 90% sequence identity to wild type  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus. 
     
     
         33 . The genetically modified  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus of  claim 1 , wherein said genetically modified HZNV-2 has at least about 95% sequence identity to wild type  Helicoverpa zea  nudivirus 2 (HzNV-2) virus.