Silver nanoparticle toxicity in silkworms: Omics technologies for a mechanistic understanding

Area of Science:

• Environmental toxicology
• Nanomaterial safety
• Insect toxicology

Background:

• Widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) raises concerns about environmental and human toxicity.
• Limited research exists on the hazardous effects of nanomaterials on insects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the toxic effects of different concentrations of AgNPs on silkworms using omics analysis.
• To investigate the impact of AgNPs on gene and protein expression, tissue integrity, and oxidative stress in silkworms.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomics and proteomics analysis of silkworms exposed to AgNPs.
• Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate gene and protein expression.
• Histopathological examination of silkworm digestive tissues.

Main Results:

• AgNPs exposure led to differential gene and protein expression, particularly affecting digestion and metabolism.
• Increased AgNPs concentration downregulated digestive enzymes, damaged silkworm midgut tissue, and suppressed antioxidant enzyme activity.
• Histopathology revealed destruction of basal lamina and columnar cells, indicating significant tissue damage.

Conclusions:

• AgNPs induce oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species production in silkworms.
• AgNPs pose a significant risk to the silkworm digestive system, highlighting potential hazards of nanoparticle contamination.