Transcriptome analysis of the immune response of silkworm at the early stage of Bombyx mori bidensovirus infection

Bombyx mori bidensovirus (BmBDV) infects silkworm midgut and causes chronic flacherie disease; however, the interaction between BmBDV and silkworm is unclear. Twenty-four hours after BmBDV infection, the midgut was extracted for RNA-seq to analyze the factors associated with BmBDV-invasion and the early antiviral immune response in silkworms. The total reads from each sample were more than 16100000 and the number of expressed genes exceeded 8200. There were 334 upregulated and 272 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology analysis of DEGs showed that structural constituents of cuticle, antioxidant, and immune system processes were upregulated. Further analysis revealed BmBDV-mediated induction of BmorCPR23 and BmorCPR44, suggesting possible involvement in viral invasion. Antioxidant genes that protect host cells from virus-induced oxidative stress, were significantly upregulated after BmBDV infection. Several genes related to peroxisomes, apoptosis, and autophagy—which may be involved in antiviral immunity—were induced by BmBDV. These results provide insights into the mechanism of BmBDV infection and host defense. •RNA-seq of the midgut of BmBDV-infected silkworms yeilded 16100000 reads.•RNA-seq of the BmBDV-infected silkworm midgut revealed 8200 expressed genes.•Cuticle constituents, antioxidant, and immune system processes were upregulated.•Peroxisomes, apoptosis, and autophagy genes were upregulated.