The Biotechnological Potential of Baculoviruses: From Insect Viruses to Biotechnology Workhorse

Baculoviruses are a significant group of arthropod viruses that are widely recognized for their potential as biological control agents against pests in agriculture and forestry. The Baculoviridae is a vast family of viruses that primarily infects various species within the Arthropoda phylum, particularly insects. Baculoviruses are widely used not only as biopesticides in agricultural applications but also as efficient tools for recombinant protein production. The Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) has been shown to be particularly effective for expressing complex or difficult-to-produce proteins in mammalian cells. Owing to its high expression capacity and post-translational modification capabilities, BEVS has been successfully employed in various biotechnological fields, including vaccine development, therapeutic protein production, and the synthesis of enzymes and antibodies. In this review, the BEVS technique, which is one of the significant areas of use of Baculoviruses, is discussed along with its advantages and several of its practical applications.