Time-course Transcriptomic Analysis of Early Host Responses to SfMNPV Infection in Spodoptera frugiperda Midgut

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major global migratory pest. Its increasing insecticide resistance poses a severe threat to food security. Developing biopesticides such as SfMNPV is critical for sustainable control. Nevertheless, the early molecular mechanisms underlying the S. frugiperda midgut response to SfMNPV infection remain poorly understood. This study utilized high-throughput transcriptome sequencing to systematically characterize the dynamic transcriptional profiles of the larval midgut at 1, 12, and 24 hours post-infection (hpi), respectively, following oral SfMNPV challenge.