Technology Description: The invention is an insect cell line transformed with polydnavirus, which is an insect virus found in parasitic wasp species.  Transformed cells may be used as models for developing  stable transformation genes inserted with polydnavirus systems. They may also be used as tools for developing virus-based insect-transforming vectors. The invention provides an alternative to the baculovirus expression system for foreign gene expression Cell transformation is achieved by infecting a susceptible insect cell culture with fluid containing polydnavirus DNA capable of integrating into the host cell genome. The fluid is obtained from female parasitoid wasps,such as Glyptapanteles indiensis, and susceptible insect cells include both Lepidopteran and Coleopteran cells. ARS researchers have pursued systems for stable insect cell transformation because of their potential to advance the fields of insect genetics, biochemistry, developmental biology, agriculture, and medicine.  Insect cell culture provides ideal conditions for studying and manipulating insect genomes in vitro.  The scientists have increased their efforts to isolate transposable and viral elements as vehicles for genetic insect cell transformation and for use in biotechnology for gene expression in vitro. Reference: Please refer to USPN 6,143,565 (Docket #0283.93), "Stable Insect Virus Cell Expression System," which issued November 7, 2000. Inventors: Dawn E. Gundersen-Rindal Insect Biocontrol Laboratory Plant Sciences Institute Beltsville, MD  20705 (301) 504-6692 / Fax: (301) 504-5104 gundersd@ba.ars.usda.gov Dwight E. Lynn  Insect Biocontrol Laboratory Planat Sciences Institute Beltsville, MD  20705 (301) 504-6328 / Fax: (301) 504-5104 Donald Stoltz Dalhousie University Halifax, Canada (902) 494-2590 / Fax: (902) 494-5125 Edward M. Dougherty (retired) Terry A. McKelvey (Formerly with ARS)