AtaGenix’s Customized ATG8 Antibody Solutions for Studying Amino Acid Metabolism Reprogramming in BmNPV-Infected Silkworms

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a significant pathogen in sericulture, causing substantial economic losses due to its severe impact on silkworm health. Studies indicate that the virus supports its replication by regulating host amino acid metabolism, with arginine being a critical amino acid for viral proliferation. BmNPV enhances arginine uptake by upregulating the amino acid transporter Slc7a6 and induces mitochondrial autophagy to maintain intracellular amino acid levels, thereby promoting viral replication.

Related research was published in PLOS Pathogens on July 8, 2025, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013331.

Research teams aim to explore how BmNPV reprograms amino acid metabolism in silkworm cells. Specific needs include: validating the role of Slc7a6 in arginine uptake and BmNPV replication; assessing the contribution of autophagy to amino acid homeostasis; and studying the impact of arginine metabolism on viral proliferation in silkworm and BmN cell models. Highly specific ATG8 antibodies are required to detect autophagy markers, ensuring accuracy in immunofluorescence and Western Blot experiments.

The preparation of ATG8 antibodies requires high specificity and stability to accurately detect autophagy markers induced by BmNPV infection. The antibodies must be compatible with multiple experimental platforms (e.g., IF, WB) and avoid non-specific signals. Additionally, knocking out Slc7a6 and evaluating its impact on viral replication demands efficient gene editing techniques and reliable detection methods.

• Antibody Development Strategy: AtaGenix uses New Zealand rabbits to produce ATG8 polyclonal antibodies, optimizing immunogen sequences to enhance specificity and employing Protein A/G affinity purification to ensure antibody purity >90%.
• Experimental Workflow: High-specificity ATG8 antibodies are prepared through optimized immunization and affinity purification processes, with an ELISA titer >1:64,000, suitable for immunofluorescence (IF) and Western Blot (WB) experiments.
• Validation Methods: Mitochondrial autophagy induced by BmNPV infection is analyzed using laser confocal microscopy and Fiji software, verifying the specificity of ATG8 antibodies in detecting autophagy markers. qPCR and TCID₅₀ assays confirm changes in BmNPV viral gene (vp39) expression and viral titers.
• Additional Support: AtaGenix provides detailed antibody quality control reports (including SDS-PAGE, ELISA titer, and batch consistency data) and recommends antibody application scenarios (e.g., IF staining conditions, WB dilution ratios).

AtaGenix’s highly specific ATG8 polyclonal antibodies played a pivotal role in BmNPV infection studies in silkworms. The antibodies validated BmNPV-induced mitochondrial autophagy, confirming that the virus maintains amino acid homeostasis through autophagy to support replication. The high specificity and stability of the antibodies ensured reliable experimental results, aiding the team in elucidating the mechanism by which BmNPV regulates arginine metabolism via an “exogenous uptake-endogenous supply” model. This provides new insights for developing antiviral strategies against BmNPV, with significant potential for agricultural applications.

For more information, visit www.atagenix.com. AtaGenix provides one-stop customized support from antibody/protein design to functional validation, covering custom antibodies, protein expression, phage display, and multi-platform validation.