Resistance to BmNPV via overexpression of an exogenous gene controlled by an inducible promoter and enhancer in transgenic silkworm, Bombyx mori

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e41838. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041838. Epub 2012 Aug 1.

Abstract

The hycu-ep32 gene of Hyphantria cunea NPV can inhibit Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) multiplication in co-infected cells, but it is not known whether the overexpression of the hycu-ep32 gene has an antiviral effect in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Thus, we constructed four transgenic vectors, which were under the control of the 39 K promoter of BmNPV (39 KP), Bombyx mori A4 promoter (A4P), hr3 enhancer of BmNPV combined with 39 KP, and hr3 combined with A4P. Transgenic lines were created via embryo microinjection using practical diapause silkworm. qPCR revealed that the expression level of hycu-ep32 could be induced effectively after BmNPV infection in transgenic lines where hycu-ep32 was controlled by hr3 combined with 39 KP (i.e., HEKG). After oral inoculation of BmNPV with 3 × 10(5) occlusion bodies per third instar, the mortality with HEKG-B was approximately 30% lower compared with the non-transgenic line. The economic characteristics of the transgenic lines remained unchanged. These results suggest that overexpression of an exogenous antiviral gene controlled by an inducible promoter and enhancer is a feasible method for breeding silkworms with a high antiviral capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / immunology
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Bombyx / genetics
  • Bombyx / immunology
  • Bombyx / metabolism*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Genes, Insect / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Insect Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / immunology
  • Nucleopolyhedroviruses*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*

Substances

  • Insect Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2012CB114600), http://www.973.gov.cn/Default_3.aspx; the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No. 2011AA100306), http://www.863.gov.cn/; the Foundation for Sci & Tech Research Project of Chongqing (CSTC2009AA1024), http://www.cstc.gov.cn/; the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30901054), http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/Portal0/default152.htm; and the Production, Education & Research of Guangdong and Ministry of Education (No. 2010A090200079), http://cxy.gdstc.gov.cn/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.