FIG 2.

Construction and characterization of gp41 knockout and gp41 repaired AcMNPV bacmids. (A) Schematic representations of the recombinant bacmids AcΔgp41, AcΔgp41-ph, and AcΔgp41-gp41R-ph. (B) Transfection-infection assay. Sf9 cells were transfected with bacmid DNA of AcΔgp41-ph or AcΔgp41-gp41R-ph, and at 96 h p.t., the supernatants were used to infect uninfected Sf9 cells. Fluorescence was observed at the indicated time points. (C) EM analysis of nucleocapsid assembly and BV formation. Sf9 cells were transfected or infected with recombinant bacmid AcΔgp41-ph (a and b) or AcΔgp41-gp41R-ph (c and d). At 48 h p.t. or 48 h p.i., cells were fixed and observed by TEM. Panels b and d are enlarged pictures of the boxed regions in panels a and c. White arrows, nucleocapsids; red arrow, nucleocapsids enclosed within a cytoplasmic vesicle; black arrows, mature BVs. Nu, nucleus; Cyto, cytoplasm. Bars, 500 nm.