Introducing complexity in the development of virus-based biocontrol agents: opportunities and challenges on baculoviruses

Abstract: Baculovirus-based biocontrol agents were originally produced using dead larvae
collected from fields. Later, industrial production was implemented, requiring standardisation. The paradigm, transposed from the chemical industry was a product as homogeneous as possible, that is, a single virus genotype as active component. Virus genetic diversity was shown to promote higher efficacy first in alphabaculoviruses, more recently in betabaculoviruses, and likely to reduce the probability of development of resistances. As biology of these two genera differs, the ways diversity is maintained in natural virus populations, and thus how to implement it in industrial productions cannot be similar.
The major challenges of changing paradigm from homogeneity to diversity will be
discussed on the light of the latest published data.