Cloning, Expression and Characterization of Spore Wall Protein 5 (SWP5) of Indian Isolate NIK-1S of Nosema bombycis.

SWPs are the major virulence component of microsporidian spores. In microsporidia, SWPs can be found either in exospore or endospore to serve as a putative virulence factor for host cell invasion. SWP5 is a vital protein that involves in exospore localization and supports the structural integrity of the spore wall and this action potentially modulates the course of infection in N.

Genetic characterisation of an Iflavirus associated with a vomiting disease in the Indian tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta.

Antheraea mylitta, the Tropical tasar silkworm, is frequently affected by a vomiting disease called Virosis by sericulturists although not confirmed being of viral origin. Based on the symptoms and the disease pattern, the causal agent is however suspected to be a virus. The condition involves a series of characteristic and progressive symptoms that generally culminates in the death of the larva.

Development and optimization of a TaqMan assay for Nosema bombycis, causative agent of pébrine disease in Bombyx mori silkworm, based on the β-tubulin gene.

"Pébrine" is a devastating disease of Bombyx mori silkworms that is highly contagious and can completely destroy an entire crop of silkworms and is thus a serious threat for the viability and profitability of sericulture. The disease is most commonly attributed to microsporidians of the genus Nosema, which are obligate intracellular parasites that are transmitted through spores. Nosema infections in silkworms are diagnosed primarily through light microscopy, which is labour intensive and less reliable, sensitive, and specific than PCR-based techniques.

Transcriptome analysis of Nosema assamensis infecting muga silkworms (Antheraea assamensis) reveals insights into candidate pathogenicity related genes and molecular pathways required for pathogenesis.

Muga silkworms are often prone to many diseases since, these are non-domesticated and are reared outdoors. Microsporidia, an obligate intracellular pathogen with spore as its active form, causes pebrine disease in these silkworms. The study has attempted to categorise the transcript data of the Nosema obtained from the infected muga silkworm using gene ontology and KEGG pathway studies.

Targeting essential genes of Nosema for the diagnosis of pebrine disease in silkworms.

Pebrine is one of the devastating diseases mostly caused by notorious Nosema - a microsporidian infecting silkworms. Identification of novel genes associated with the pathogen plays a key role in developing a reliable diagnostic tool for the detection of disease. Targeting potential biomarkers will help in developing strategies for fast and efficient control measures, which can prevent the spread of infection.