Abstract
Silkworm, Bombyx mori, vitellogenin (Vg) was isolated from perivisceral fat body of day 3 of pupa. Both Vg subunits were co-purified as verified by mass spectrometry and immunoblot. Purified Vg responded to specific tests for major posttranslational modifications on native gels indicating its nature as lipo-glyco-phosphoprotein. The Vg fraction had strong antibacterial activity against Gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli and Gram positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Microscopic images showed binding of Vg to bacterial cells and their destruction. When infected silkworm larvae were treated with purified Vg they survived the full life cycle in contrast to untreated animals. This result showed that Vg has the ability to inhibit the proliferation of bacteria in the silkworm fluid system without disturbing the regular metabolism of the host.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
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Bacillus subtilis / drug effects
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Bacillus subtilis / growth & development
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Bombyx / chemistry*
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Bombyx / metabolism
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Escherichia coli / drug effects
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Escherichia coli / growth & development
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Fat Body / chemistry
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Fat Body / metabolism
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Larva / drug effects
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Larva / microbiology
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Microbial Viability / drug effects
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Phosphoproteins / biosynthesis
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Phosphoproteins / isolation & purification
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Phosphoproteins / pharmacology*
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Protein Binding
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Protein Subunits / biosynthesis
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Protein Subunits / isolation & purification
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Protein Subunits / pharmacology*
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Pupa / chemistry
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Pupa / metabolism
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Vitellogenins / biosynthesis
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Vitellogenins / isolation & purification
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Vitellogenins / pharmacology*
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Phosphoproteins
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Protein Subunits
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Vitellogenins
Grants and funding
This project was made possible by funding of the Indo-German Academic Exchange Service PPP program. The authors are highly thankful to Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, University Grant Commission (UGC), DST-FIST, New Delhi, India, and BRNS Mumbai for providing the financial support to carry out this research work. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.