# Transcriptome Dynamics of BmN Cells During the Early Phase of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus Infection

## TL;DR

This study examines how silkworm cells respond to a virus infection at the molecular level, identifying key genes and pathways involved in the early stages of infection.

## Contribution

The study identifies Map3k12 as a potential inhibitor of BmNPV replication and provides transcriptome data for early infection phases.

## Key findings

- 1136 and 5191 differentially expressed genes were identified at 12 hpi and 24 hpi, respectively.
- The ECM–receptor interaction pathway was highlighted as significant in the infection process.
- RT-qPCR confirmed that Map3k12 inhibits BmNPV replication.

## Abstract

Bombyx mori are one of the most economically significant model organisms, and their production is frequently severely threatened by Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). In this study, we successfully generated recombinant BmNPV particles in vitro using a laboratory-established MultiBac system and infected the B. mori cell line BmN. Transcriptome data were collected at 12 hpi and 24 hpi. Analysis of the data revealed that the Map3k12 protein may inhibit BmNPV replication. This study not only provides data support for screening BmNPV receptors and identifying key proteins involved in viral replication, but also lays an important foundation for exploring BmNPV control strategies at the molecular level.

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an economically important insect severely impacted by Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), a double-stranded DNA virus that causes substantial losses to the sericulture industry. To elucidate the mechanisms of BmNPV infection and replication, we performed transcriptome sequencing of BmN cells infected with a recombinant BmNPV at 12 and 24 h post infection (hpi). A total of 1136 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the 12 hpi group, including 789 up-regulated and 347 down-regulated genes, while 5191 DEGs were detected at 24 hpi, including 2102 up-regulated and 3089 down-regulated genes. Functional annotation via GO and KEGG analyses highlighted the ECM–receptor interaction pathway as particularly significant. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that Map3k12 inhibits BmNPV replication. These findings lay the groundwork for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms of BmNPV infection and can be utilized for breeding dominant genes conferring resistance to nucleopolyhedrovirus in the silkworm.