Transgenic RNAi of BmREEPa in silkworms can enhance the resistance of silkworm to Bombyxmori Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Abstract Our previous study has identified a gene, BmREEPa , which affects BmNPV invasion in silkworm cells. In this study, we interfered with BmREEPa in silkworm larvae through transgenic technology and screened BmREEPa -RNAi silkworm strains ( RP ). We found the mortality in RP was lower than that in Dazao , when silkworm larvae were infected with BmNPV via oral and injection routes. And the expression level of VP39 was lower in RP than in Dazao in the group infected via injection. In the oral infection group, VP39 expression level showed significant reduction at 48 h post-infection. These results revealed that the anti-BmNPV activity was enhanced in RP , and this enhancement probably presents itself during secondary infection via BVs.