Fig. 3.

Milestones in baculovirus research and development. The scheme is a timeline of the last 50 years where some ground-breaking discoveries and developments involving baculoviruses are cited, with a particular focus on AcMNPV, the most widely studied and applied species of Baculoviridae. These achievements are classified according to 4 categories: basic research and applications of omic technologies in AcMNPV, plus the development of cell lines to multiply the vector; the use of genetic-engineering tools on the AcMNPV genome; biotechnological applications of AcMNPV virions; and regulatory approvals of some AcMNPV-based products (or baculovirus based products). Only in the example of the first registered biopesticide (Elcar®) and the first veterinary therapy based on recombinant protein produced in Bombyx mori larvae (Virbagen® Omega) are mentioned products generated using other baculoviral species (Helicoverpa zea NPV and Bombyx mori NPV, respectively; milestones indicated with orange stars). All the references that support these milestones are included in the main text