Suppression of Expression Enhances the Susceptibility of to .

Transferrins (Trfs) are multifunctional proteins with key functions in iron transport. In the present study, a () from was identified and characterized. The consisted of a 2046-bp open reading frame, which encoded a 681 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 73.43 kDa and had an isoelectric point of 7.18. Only a single iron domain was predicted in the N-lobe of PxTrf. Although was expressed ubiquitously, the highest levels of expression were observed in the fourth instar larvae. transcript level was highest in fat bodies among various tissues. The transcript levels increased significantly after the stimulation of pathogens. A decrease in expression via RNA interference enhanced the susceptibility of to the fungus and inhibited hemocyte nodulation in response to the fungal challenge. In addition, a considerable increase in the pupation rate was observed in larvae treated with double-stranded PxTrf (dsPxTrf). Overall, according to the results, PxTrf may participate in immunity against fungal infection and insect development.