Production of virus occlusion bodies that occlude virions comprising genomes of different species of baculoviruses that can be used to combat insect pests

A method for producing mixed virus occlusion derived virions (ODV) that comprise genomes from at least two different baculovirus species co-wrapped in the same virion, and/or for producing virus occlusion bodies in which at least one of said mixed virus occlusion derived virions is occluded, wherein at least one of the infecting baculoviruses is a multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, and

• wherein the virus occlusion bodies are produced by:
• a. co-infecting larvae or culture cells of an insect species with the baculovirus genomes to be co-wrapped in at least one of the produced occlusion derived virions, wherein each baculovirus genome belonging to one particular species can be in the same or in a different ODV than the other one;
• b. rearing the infected larvae or cultivating the cells until death by polyhedrosis;
• c. isolating the produced OBs from the larvae or cultivated cells after their death;
• wherein the cells or larvae are susceptible to infection by either of the baculoviruses whose genomes are to be co-wrapped in at least one of the produced occlusion derived virions, and,
• which optionally include an additional step wherein free, non occluded ODVs are obtained by subjecting the produced isolated OBs to alkaline lysis.