Original paper
Microbiota-driven adaptation of silkworms to water stress
Liu, Yue; Zheng, Renwen; Cheng, Luoling; Liu, Lijuan; Liang, Chunzi; Huang, Jianhua; Tang, Qingfeng
published online: Oct 22, 2025
manuscript accepted: Jul 24, 2025
manuscript revision received: Jul 17, 2025
manuscript revision requested: May 19, 2025
manuscript received: Apr 2, 2025
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
Gut microbes are key components in insects and profoundly influence their hosts’ growth, development, and reproduction. They act as regulators in several critical processes, including host signal transduction, immune response, and nutrient digestion and absorption. The silkworm, a typical herbivorous insect, is influenced by environmental humidity in its growth and development. However, the regulatory role of gut bacteria in silkworms under water stress remains an unresolved question. This study investigated this issue by measuring physiological indicators, observing midgut sections, and sequencing gut microbiota. We showed that water stress not only inhibited silkworm growth and development but also altered the structure of the midgut and the composition of gut bacteria. Furthermore, through the isolation and identification of gut bacteria and the cultivation of germ-free silkworms, two specific bacterial strains were identified: F1 (Bacillus pumilus) and F3 (Arthrobacter nicotianae). These strains had been shown to enhance the resistance of silkworms to the adverse effects of water stress. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing analysis identified differentially expressed genes in the immune pathway. The results indicated that these two bacterial strains, F1 (Bacillus pumilus) and F3 (Arthrobacter nicotianae), exerted varying regulatory effects on these genes. This study provided new insights into the role of gut microbes in silkworm adaptation to environmental changes and establishes a theoretical foundation for developing pest management strategies based on microbial interventions.
Keywords
Bombyx mori
•
16S rDNA •
RNA-seq •
differentially expressed genes •
immune regulation •
microbial diversity •
environmental adaptation