Iridovirus infection of cell cultures from the Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus

We here report the development and viral infection of a Diaprepes root weevil cell culture. Embryonic tissues of the root weevil were used to establish cell cultures for use in screening viral pathogens as potential biological control agents. Tissues were seeded into a prepared solution of insect medium and kept at a temperature of 24°C. The cell culture had primarily fibroblast-like morphology with some epithelial monolayers. Root weevil cells were successfully infected in vitro Abbreviation: / IIV-6: Invertebrate Iridescent Virus 6