Differential Level of Host Gene Expression Associated with Nucleopolyhedrovirus Infection in Silkworm Races of Bombyx mori

The variation in the level of immune response related gene expression in silkworm, Bombyx mori following infection with Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was analyzed at different time intervals. The occlusion bodies of BmNPV orally inoculated to the two most divergent silkworm races viz., Sarupat (resistant to BmNPV infection) and CSR2 (susceptible to BmNPV infection) were subjected to oral BmNPV inoculation. The expression profile of gp41 gene of BmNPV in the Sarupat and CSR2 races revealed that the virus could invade the midguts of both susceptible and resistant races. However, its multiplication was significantly less in the midgut of resistant race, while, in the susceptible race, the viral multiplication reached maximum level within 12 h. These findings indicate that potential host genes are involved in the inhibition of viral multiplication within larval midgut. The immune response genes arylphorin, cathepsin B, gloverin, lebocin, serpin, Hsp 19.9, Hsp 20.1, Hsp 20.4, Hsp 20.8, Hsp 21.4, Hsp 23.7, Hsp 40, Hsp 70, Hsp90 revealed differential level of expression on NPV infection. The gloverin, serpin, Hsp 23.7 and Hsp 40 genes are significantly up-regulated in the resistant race after NPV infection. The early up-regulation of these genes suggests that these genes could play an important role in baculovirus resistance in the silkworm, B. mori. 29(2), 145-152