Abstract: 【Aim】 Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus nucleocapsid protein VP39 is necessary for virus assembly. This study aims to explore the functions and characteristics of VP39 in the infection process of virus in silkworm cells and so to make a contribution to the antivirus research of the silkworm. 【Methods】 The prokaryotic expression vector was constructed to induce and produce the VP39 polyclonal antibody and to test the time course of protein expression by Western blot. The location of VP39 and the effect of VP39 on BmNPV proliferation in silkworm cells were observed by transfection of eukaryotic expression vector pIZ-vp39-V5/His and immunofluorescence. 【Results】 We obtained the VP39 polyclonal antibody, and verified that VP39 was mostly localized in cells nucleus areas during BmNPV infection, but just localized in the cytoplasm when overexpressed. The overexpressed VP39 inhibited the proliferation of BmNPV in BmN-SWU1. 【Conclusion】 The results suggest that the overexpression of VP39 in BmNSWU1 cells may inhibit the proliferation of BmNPV, thus offering a new way for exploring the regulation of VP39 in the interaction between host cell and virus.

Key words: Bombyx mori, nucleopolyhedrovirus, VP39, antivirus, virus proliferation, subcellular localization