Characterization and genome comparison of an Indian isolate of bidensovirus infecting the silkworm Bombyx mori.

The bipartite genome of an Indian isolate of Bombyx mori bidensovirus (BmBDV), one of the causative agents of the fatal silkworm disease 'Flacherie', was cloned and completely sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this Indian isolate of BmBDV revealed two viral DNA segments, VD1 and VD2 as well as a DNA polymerase motif which supports its taxonomical status as the type species of a new family of Bidnaviridae. The Indian isolate of BmBDV was found to have a total of six putative ORFs four of which were located on the VD1 with the other two being on the VD2 DNA segment.

Attacin gene sequence variations in different ecoraces of tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta.

Attacin gene exists as paralogous conversion and is being used for identification of strain variations in insects based on the sequence variation. Hence, a study was undertaken to analyze the sequence variation of the attacin gene isoforms in the tasar silkworm Anthereae mylitta that exists in the form of different ecoraces depending upon the environment, food plant and location. Comparison of the previously reported attacin sequences with the DNA sequences of attacin A and B genes revealed six amino acid substitutions among the sequences of the ecoraces which however did not affect the functional domain of Attacin.

Genome wide microarray based expression profiles associated with BmNPV resistance and susceptibility in Indian silkworm races of Bombyx mori.

The molecular mechanism involved in BmNPV resistance was investigated using a genome wide microarray in midgut tissue of Indian silkworm Bombyx mori. In resistant race (Sarupat), 735 genes up-regulated and 589 genes down-regulated at 12 h post BmNPV infection. Similarly, in case of susceptible race (CSR-2), 2183 genes up-regulated and 2115 genes down-regulated.

Exploring inhibitory potential of Curcumin against various cancer targets by in silico virtual screening.

Various types of cancer accounts for 10% of total death worldwide which necessitates better therapeutic strategies. Curcumin, a curcuminoid present in Curcuma longa, shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. Present study, we aimed to analyze inhibitory properties of curcumin towards virulent proteins for various cancers by computer aided virtual screening.

Coregulation of host-response genes in integument: switchover of gene expression correlation pattern and impaired immune responses induced by dipteran parasite infection in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The activation of host response proteins against parasitic infection is dependent on the coregulation of immune gene expression. The infection of commercially important silkworm Bombyx mori through endoparasite Exorista bombycis enhanced host-response gene expression in integument early in the infection and was lowered asymptotically. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed heterogeneity while explaining ∼80 % variance among expression timings.

The Indian isolate of Densovirus-2 - Impact of infection and mechanism of resistance in Bombyx mori L.

The Indian Bombyxmori Densovirus type 2 isolate (DNV-2), revealed closer homology with Japanese Yamanashi isolate. PCR and qPCR analyses indicated severe and widespread prevalence of the virus in flacherie diseased B. mori under Indian field conditions.

Molecular characterization of DnaJ 5 homologs in silkworm Bombyx mori and its expression during egg diapause.

A comparison of the cDNA sequences (1 056 bp) of Bombyx mori DnaJ 5 homolog with B. mori genome revealed that unlike in other Hsps, it has an intron of 234 bp. The DnaJ 5 homolog contains 351 amino acids, of which 70 contain the conserved DnaJ domain at the N-terminal end.

Activation of autophagic programmed cell death and innate immune gene expression reveals immuno-competence of integumental epithelium in Bombyx mori infected by a dipteran parasitoid.

In insects, the integument forms the primary barrier between the environment and internal milieu, but cellular and immune responses of the integumental epithelium to infection by micro- and macro-parasites are mostly unknown. We elucidated cellular and immune responses of the epithelium induced through infection by a dipteran endoparasitoid, Exorista bombycis in the economically important silkworm Bombyx mori. Degradative autophagic vacuoles, lamella-like bodies, a network of cytoplasmic channels with cellular cargo, and an RER network that opened to vacuoles were observed sequentially with increase in age after infection.

Differential gene expression during early embryonic development in diapause and non-diapause eggs of multivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori.

Quantification of the differential expression of metabolic enzyme and heat-shock protein genes (Hsp) during early embryogenesis in diapause and non-diapause eggs of the silkworm B. mori was carried out by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Data analysis revealed that, the phosphofructokinase (PFK) expression started at a higher level in the early stage (6 h after oviposition) in non-diapause eggs, while in diapause induced eggs, it started at a lower level.

Molecular evolution of the cecropin multigene family in silkworm Bombyx mori.

Cecropins constitute one of the largest and most potent immune protein families found in insect species with diversified numbers and features. In view of the large number of cecropin proteins existing with much sequence variations among them, an overview of the multigene cecropin family in silkworm Bombyx mori was attempted in this study. Cecropin encodes an inducible 64 residue anti-bacterial peptide and was clustered into two groups; first group viz.