Silkworm Larvae Plasma's Use In The Pharmaceutical World

By Timothy Francis, Technical Specialist LAL Division

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, has an interesting defense against bacterial and fungal invasion found in the hemolymph and cuticle of the insect. The defense mechanism involves a chemical cascade, the pro-phenol oxidase (proPO) cascade, that ultimately results in melanin formation around the foreign matter within the insect’s body. When one thinks of melanin, the first thing that comes to mind is the tanning process in basal skin cells in response to ultraviolet light from the sun. This response is not simply aesthetic – the formation of melanin in human cells is a protective mechanism guarding the cells’ DNA against the ionization dangers of the radiation. In a similar manner, melanin is formed in the insects’ bodies to contain foreign matter.

Learn about the potential of Silkworm Larvae Plasma (SLP) including bacteria detection and identification and peptidoglycan detection.