Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores
08:58

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores

Published on: April 15, 2019

Display of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus GP64 on the Bacillus subtilis spore coat

Guohui Li1, Qi Tang, Huiqing Chen

  • 1Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China.

Current Microbiology
|January 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Vaccinating silkworms (Bombyx mori) with Bacillus subtilis spores displaying GP64 protein enhanced their resistance against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection, offering a potential new strategy against viral diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bacillus subtilis spores are a promising platform for oral vaccines.
  • Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) causes significant economic losses in sericulture.
  • GP64 is a major envelope protein of baculoviruses, crucial for viral entry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a recombinant Bacillus subtilis spore vaccine displaying GP64.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of GP64-displaying spores in protecting Bombyx mori against BmNPV infection.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of a recombinant integrative plasmid (pJS700-GP64) with cotC-Gp64 gene.
  • Transformation into Bacillus subtilis 168 and selection of a double cross-over integrant.
  • Confirmation of GP64 expression on the bacterial spore surface.
  • Challenging immunized Bombyx mori with BmNPV.

Main Results:

  • Successful integration of the cotC-Gp64 gene into the Bacillus subtilis chromosome.
  • GP64 protein was expressed on the surface of recombinant spores.
  • Recombinant spore-vaccinated silkworms showed a degree of resistance to BmNPV challenge.

Conclusions:

  • Bacillus subtilis spores displaying GP64 can induce protective immunity in Bombyx mori against BmNPV.
  • This approach offers a potential alternative for controlling BmNPV in silkworms.
  • Further research is warranted to optimize the vaccine and assess its field efficacy.

More Related Videos

Spore Adsorption as a Nonrecombinant Display System for Enzymes and Antigens07:42

Spore Adsorption as a Nonrecombinant Display System for Enzymes and Antigens

Published on: March 19, 2019

Improvement of Bacillus subtilis Spore Enumeration and Label Analysis in Flow Cytometry06:39

Improvement of Bacillus subtilis Spore Enumeration and Label Analysis in Flow Cytometry

Published on: June 30, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Endospores and Sporulation01:20

Endospores and Sporulation

Endospores are specialized, dormant cells primarily formed by Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus and Clostridium, enabling survival under extreme environmental conditions. Due to their unique composition and formation process, these structures are highly resistant to physical and chemical insults, such as extreme heat, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, desiccation, and toxic chemicals. Rare instances of endospore-like structures have also been observed in some Gram-negative bacteria,...
Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Gene Regulation During Sporulation01:17

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
Production of Biopesticides01:18

Production of Biopesticides

Biopesticides offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing microbial agents to control agricultural pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed bacterium known for its potent insecticidal activity. Bt biopesticides are favored for their specificity to insect pests, minimal environmental impact, and natural degradability.Mechanism of Bt Toxin Action Bt produces insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins during its sporulation phase. These proteins form parasporal...