Interaction between pathogens (microbes) and microplastics in silkworm Bombyx mori: Transcriptomic analysis

This study investigates the transcriptomic response of the economically important insect Bombyx mori (silkworm) to environmental microplastics and two bacterial pathogens, Serratia marcescens and Bacillus thuringiensis, administered individually and in combination. RNA-Seq was performed on larval midgut tissues from six treatment groups: control (CK), microplastics (MPs), S. marcescens (Sm), B. thuringiensis (Bt), microplastics + S. marcescens (MSm), and microplastics + B. thuringiensis (MBt). The objective is to uncover gene expression changes related to stress, immunity, and survival under combined environmental and biological challenges. The findings will enhance understanding of the ecological risks posed by microplastic pollution and microbial infections in silkworms and inform sustainable sericulture practices.