• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2007

The Bombyx mori parvo-like virus (China isolate) DNA polymerase (BmDNV-3 dnapol) gene has been tentatively identified based on the presence of conserved motifs. In the present study, we perform a transcriptional analysis of the BmDNV-3 dnapol gene using the total RNA isolated from BmDNV-3 infected silkworm at different times. Northern blot analysis with a BmDNV-3 dnapol-specific riboprobe showed a major transcript of 3.3 kb. 5'-RACE revealed that the major transcription start point was located 20 nucleotides downstream of the TATA box. In a temporal expression analysis using differential RT-PCR, BmDNV-3 dnapol transcript was detected at low levels at 6 h.p.i., increased from 6 to 36 h.p.i., and remained fairly constant thereafter. Analysis of the predicted DNA polymerase sequence using neighborjoining and protein parsimony algorithms indicated that the predicted 1115-residue polypeptide contained five motifs associated with DNA polymerases synthetic activities and three additional motifs associated with polymerases possessing 3' to 5' exonuclease activity. The molecular phylogenetic analysis of this gene supported the placement of Bombyx mori parvo-like virus in a separate virus family.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.87-89
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• 2001

The nucleotide sequence of the domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori) mitochondrial (mt) control region and its flanking genes was determined from PCR clones. The control region of the silkworm mt genome was located between the small ribosomal RNA gene and transfer RN $A^{Met}$. This 499 bp control region hale 95.4% A+T content. Extensive comparative analysis studies performed with similar control region of other insect genomes could not reveal a highly conserved region containing conserved motifs of animal mito-chondrial genome. The remarkable feature that found in this control region was the presence of tandem motifs containing nine repetitive sequences. The potential usefulness of this motif sequences for Bombyx species or their taxonomically related species is enhanced by its unique localization in the maternally inheritance mitochondrial molecule.e.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

The implications of temperature $(25, 30 and 35{\times}1^{\circ}C)$ and relative humidity $(60, 70 and 80{\times}2%)$ on the moulting pattern, moulting duration and moulting survival were studied in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Larvae of two pure silkworm breeds, Pure Mysore (PM) and NB$_4$D$_2$and their hybrid, $PM{\times}NB_{4} D_{2}$ were reared under experimental conditions under natural day photoperiodic (LD 12:12) condition. Two developmental marker events in the fourth moulting, settling for moult (SM) and completion of moult (CM) occurred at or around the middle of the photophase. The computed mean vector (equation omitted), based on the circular statistics also confirmed the above. Temperature and humidity did not alter the moulting rhythmicity much. However, extreme temperature and humidity conditions reduced moulting survival in PM and $PM {\times}NB_{4} D_{2}$. Further, moulting survival reduced below the economic level in $NB_{4} D_{2}$. The temperature and humidity together seem to exert synergic impact on the moulting survival of the silkworm Bombyx mori, at least in $NB_{4} D_{2}$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2002

Peptidohlycan recognition protein (PGRP) is one of the pattern recognition proteins in innate immunity of insect. We isolated differentially expressed two cDNAa, BTL-LPI and BTL-LP2, in the fat body of Bombyx mori larvae injected with bacteria by subtractive hybridization method. These two clones showed amino acid sequence divergence of 30.4%. In the comparison with other insect PGRP genes, BTL-LP2 showed 48.8% and 45.2% of sequence homology to the known PGRP genes of Bombyx mori and Tricoplusia ni, respectively, and BTL-LP2 was 31.8% and 30.9% , respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed relatively close relationship of the BTL-LP2 to the known insect PGRP, unlike BTL-LPI, which was equidistant both to insect and mammals, suggesting a divergent relationships of the two newly cloned B. mori PGRP genes. Northern blot analyses confirmed an induction of the expression of BTL-LP2 by the bacterial infection in the Int body of B. mori, suggesting the involvement of the gene in the insect immunity.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.179-181
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• 2003

$F(ab`)_2$-ELISA and direct antigen coating-ELISA (DAC-ELISA) were evaluated in the detection of purified Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) and nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection in silkworm larvae inoculated with BmNPV polyhedra. Although nanogram levels of BmNPV was detected in both DAC- and $F(ab`)_2$-ELISA, similar concentrations of antigen was detected in case of F(ab’)$_2$-ELISA even at higher dilution of antibody (up to 1 : 20 K). One hundred percent nuclear polyhedrosis infection was detected 6 hrs after inoculation in BmNPV infected silkworm larvae by $F(ab`)_2$-ELISA. On the other hand, detection of 100% infection was observed only three days after inoculation in DAC-ELISA. In this study, it was observed $F(ab`)_2$-ELISA was more sensitive than DAC-ELISA in the detection of purified BmNPV as well as nuclear polyhedrosis infection in silkworm larvae.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 1989

Antheraea yamamai vitellin was purified from matured eggs by polyacryamide gel electrophoresis, also stage dependent appearance, immunological comparison and relative content of the protein were investigated. 1. Vitellogenin, the precursor of vitellin, was first detected in the larval hemolymph at the late spinning stage by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. 2. The electrophoretic mobility of the vitellin was identical with that of Bombyx mori and of Bombyx mandarina. However, the specific antiserum against A. uamamai vitellin did not react with either that of Bombyx mori or Bombyx mandarina in immumo-diffusion test. 3. Relative content of A. yamamai vitellin to the total soluble egg protein was 46.0 percent and did not change till eight days after oviposition. But the content started to decline from ten days after oviposition and was negligible in the five or serventeen month old eggs.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 1990

The surface patterns and the structures of transverse section of the egg-shell of the sikmoth, Bombyx mandarina, have been described by scanning electron microscope. Three spatially differentiated cross section, called lamellar, conic pillar and cover layers, are found on the mature eg-shell. Silkmoth chorion proteins were detected more than 80 components from a single chorion by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Major protein components of the egg-shell have bee identified on the basis of their isoelectric points and molecular weights, pH 4-6 and 6-30 kd. Several protein components are found entirely or predominantly in th cover layers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.394-399
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• 2008

Multiple sequence alignments of the Bombyx mori fibroin light chain gene (fib-L) from hybrids and from Chinese and Japanese strains demonstrated that 51.6% of the fib-L third intron is conserved. One of these conserved segments, 41 bp long, contains the sequence CGTTATTATACATATT, which is duplicated in the B. mori Nd-$s^D$ mutant. In the present work, electrophoretic mobility assays and computational analyses revealed a major peak of intrinsic bent DNA within the segment that undergoes breakage in the previously-described Nd-$s^D$ mutation. This result suggested that this intrinsically-curved region might mediate DNA cleavage and enhance recombination events in the third intron of the Bombyx mori fib-L gene.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2001

The influence of baculovirus Bombyx mori Nuclear Polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) infection on intermediary metabolic pathways in silkworm Bombyx mori L. was investigated. Studies revealed that NADP-linked malate dehydrogenase activity in hemolymph of infected silkworms at 96 hrs post infection (p.i.) with visible symptoms of infection was enhanced in comparison to healthy larvae of the same age. Also, NADP-dependent MDH activity was significantly lower in fat body cytosol of infected larvae at 96 hrs p.i. when compared to healthy larvae. Similarly, some biometabolic parameters like growth, protein content and cholesterol titer were observed to be influenced by baculovirus infection. While the growth of infected larvae was significantly retardedi protein content was also drastically reduced in both hemolymph and fat body tissues. Cholesterol titers however, was enhanced in infected larvae. The results observed herein point to a significant change in the normal biochemical and biometabolic pathways required for growth and development following BmNPV infection.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2002

The implications of temperature (25,30 and 35$^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity (60, 70 and 80%) on the pupation patterns were studied in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Larvae of two pure silkworm breeds, Pure Mysore (PM) and NB4D2 and their hybrid, PM ${\times}4 NB4D2 were reared under experimental conditions under natural day photoperiodic (LD 12: 12) condition. The three developmental marker events viz., larval ripening, pharate pupal formation and pupal formation occurred at or around the beginning of the photo-phase. The computed of mean vector (equation omitted), based on the circular statistics, also confirmed the above. However, the length of mean vector, r and the mean vector angular variance, s varied according to temperature and humidity conditions imposed; the variations being non-significant. Extreme temperature and humidity conditions, however, resulted in reduction in pupation rate (%) for PM and PM ${\times}4 NB4D2. On the other hand, in NB4D2 pupation percentage reduced below the economic level. The temperature and humidity together seems to exert synergic impact on the pupation rate at least in the silkworm Bombyx mori, L.