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Autophagy promotes replication of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus in insect cells

Shigang Fei1, Junming Xia1, Nasir Mehmood1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|August 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection triggers host cell autophagy and mitochondrial damage in silkworms. This autophagy process enhances viral replication, offering insights into host-virus interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • BmNPV exclusively infects silkworms, but the interaction mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Investigating host cell autophagy induction by BmNPV is crucial for understanding viral replication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if BmNPV infection induces host cell autophagy.
  • To elucidate the role of autophagy in BmNPV replication and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of autophagosome-like vesicles and ATG8-PE conversion in infected cells.
  • Transmission electron microscopy to analyze mitochondrial morphology changes.
  • Measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential and eGFP-ATG8 colocalization with mitochondria.
  • Pharmacological manipulation of autophagy to assess its impact on viral replication.

Main Results:

  • BmNPV infection significantly increased vesicles and ATG8-PE conversion, indicating autophagy induction.
  • Mitochondrial morphology changes and decreased membrane potential were observed post-infection.
  • eGFP-ATG8 colocalized with damaged mitochondria, suggesting mitophagy.
  • Modulating autophagy levels affected BmNPV replication.

Conclusions:

  • BmNPV infection induces host cell autophagy and mitochondrial damage.
  • Mitochondrial autophagy may be involved in the BmNPV infection process.
  • BmNPV utilizes host autophagy to promote its replication within silkworm cells.
Keywords:
AutophagyBmNPVMitochondrial membraneSilkworm

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