Abstract

This disclosure relates to an isolated and cloned DNA from a granulovirus virus which comprises an amino acid sequence of the vital gene encoding a polypeptide isolated from occlusion bodies of certain baculoviruses and which polypeptide possesses the biological activity of enhancing baculovirus infectivity. Such proteins termed herein as "enhancins" are found within the viral occlusion body, have a disruptive effect on the insect peritrophic membrane (PM) proteins, and/or interact with the midgut epithelium in such a manner as to permit the increased adsorption, penetration and uptake of virus particles by midgut cells with a concomitant increase in host mortality. Disclosed herein is a recombinant DNA sequence which codes for the enhancin protein of the Helicoverpa armigera granulovirus virus. The DNA sequence is shown in SEQ. ID. NO.: 1 and the open reading frame is shown in SEQ. ID. NO.: 1: base pairs 271-2976. The amino acid sequence of the enhancin protein is shown in SEQ. ID. NO.: 2.