This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ponnuvel, K. M. Articles by Yamakawa, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ponnuvel, K. M. Articles by Yamakawa, M.

A Lipase Isolated from the Silkworm Bombyx mori Shows Antiviral Activity against Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Innate Immunity Laboratory, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634,¹ Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan²

Received 7 March 2003/ Accepted 14 July 2003

A protein showing strong antiviral activity against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was purified from the digestive juice of B. mori larvae. A homology search of the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein cDNA revealed 56% homology with Drosophila melanogaster lipase and 21% homology with human lipase. As lipase activity of the protein was confirmed in vitro, this protein was designated Bmlipase-1. Northern blot analysis showed that the Bmlipase-1 gene is expressed in the midgut but not in other tissues, nor is it activated by BmNPV infection. In addition, the Bmlipase-1 gene was shown not to be expressed in the molting and wandering stages, indicating that the gene is hormonally regulated. Our results suggest that an insect digestive enzyme has potential as a physiological barrier against BmNPV at the initial site of viral infection.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Pandian, G. N., Ishikawa, T., Togashi, M., Shitomi, Y., Haginoya, K., Yamamoto, S., Nishiumi, T., Hori, H. (2008). Bombyx mori Midgut Membrane Protein P252, Which Binds to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A, Is a Chlorophyllide-Binding Protein, and the Resulting Complex Has Antimicrobial Activity. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 1324-1331 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Medeiros, R. B., Resende, R. d. O., de Avila, A. C. (2004). The Plant Virus Tomato Spotted Wilt Tospovirus Activates the Immune System of Its Main Insect Vector, Frankliniella occidentalis. J. Virol. 78: 4976-4982 [Abstract] [Full Text]