Katharine L. Modisett, Christy D. Robinson, Ashok K. Raina, Alan R. Lax, Scott F. Michael, Sharon lsern
Journal of Insect Science 8 (52), 1-10, (1 September 2008) https://doi.org/10.1673/031.008.5201
KEYWORDS: termite, gene transfer, vesicular stomatitis virus, Primary cell culture, cryopreservation
The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), are well known for their destruction of human dwellings and flora in the tropics and subtropics. A method to deliver foreign genes into termite cell cultures would provide a controlled environment to facilitate the study of key regulatory functions at the molecular and cellular level. Here a method for the establishment and cryopreservation of primary embryonic termite cell cultures is described. Evidence is presented of viral-mediated gene transfer in these cells and foreign gene expression using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector.