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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Gene expression profiling of resistant and susceptible Bombyx mori strains reveals nucleopolyhedrovirus-associated
Yan-Yuan Bao1, Xu-Dong Tang, Zu-Yao Lv
1Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
Abstract:
We investigated variations in the gene expression of Bombyx mori following infection with a nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). Two B. mori strains, KN and 306, which are highly resistant and susceptible to BmNPV infection, respectively, were used in this study. The infection profiles of BmNPV in the B. mori KN and 306 larvae revealed that the virus invaded the midguts of both these strains. However, its proliferation was notably inhibited in the midgut of the resistant strain. By using the suppression subtractive hybridization method, two cDNA libraries were constructed in order to compare the BmNPV responsive gene expressions between the two silkworm lines. In total, 62 differentially expressed genes were obtained. Real-time qPCR analysis confirmed that eight genes were significantly up-regulated in the midgut of the KN strain following BmNPV infection. Our results imply that these up-regulated genes may be involved in the B. mori immune response against BmNPV infection.
Insights
This study compared gene expression in resistant and susceptible silkworms (Bombyx mori) after nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection. Eight genes were significantly up-regulated in resistant silkworms, suggesting a role in their immune defense against BmNPV.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular Biology
- * Entomology
- * Immunology
Background:
- * Bombyx mori (silkworm) is susceptible to nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection.
- * Genetic variations influence resistance and susceptibility to BmNPV.
- * Understanding gene expression differences is crucial for insect immunity research.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate differential gene expression in Bombyx mori strains with varying BmNPV resistance.
- * To identify genes involved in the silkworm immune response to BmNPV.
Main Methods:
- * Comparative analysis of BmNPV infection in resistant (KN) and susceptible (306) Bombyx mori strains.
- * Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to construct cDNA libraries.
- * Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to validate gene expression levels.
Main Results:
- * BmNPV invaded midguts of both silkworm strains, but proliferation was inhibited in the resistant KN strain.
- * 62 differentially expressed genes were identified between the two strains.
- * Eight genes were significantly up-regulated in the midgut of the resistant KN strain post-infection.
Conclusions:
- * The identified up-regulated genes likely play a role in the Bombyx mori immune response against BmNPV.
- * These findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of insect antiviral immunity.
