title: Potential mode of protection of silkworm pupae from environmental stress by harboring the bacterial biofilm on the surfaces of silk cocoons.
abstract: The silkworm forms cocoon to protect its pupa that survives for months inside the cocoon without being affected by various environmental stresses. To understand the possible mode of pupal survival within the cocoon encasement, we investigate the cause that protects the cocoon. During the end of the spinning process, we have isolated different bacterial species from the cocoon surface. These are identified using molecular techniques and checked for their abilities to form biofilm in vitro. The bacteria are able to form biofilm either individually or in consortia. Of which, Bacillus and Erwinia species are prominent biofilm formers. Interestingly, these bacteria have the ability to form biofilm on the cocoon mimetic surface of the silk protein Sericin Hope that contains only sericin. The origin and the behavior of the bacteria lead us to hypothesize the possible role of biofilm layer on the cocoon surface, which provides protection from adverse environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Pranab K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.forename: Deboki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naskar
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Juming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Subhas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Anindya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms; D012831:Bombyx / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D011679:Pupa; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D047011:Silk; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D047011:Silk