RNA interference (RNAi) of ten peroxidases (POXs) of <i>Spodoptera exigua</i> and functional assay with respect to cellular immune responses.

<p>(A) RNAi using double-stranded RNAs (‘dsPOXs’) specific to each of the ten POXs. To induce POX genes, 5×10⁵<i>Escherichia coli</i> cells were injected to L5 larvae along with dsRNA (500 ng per larva). (B) Hemocyte-spreading assay after dsRNA treatment. At 48 h after dsRNA injection, hemocytes were collected for bioassay. (C) Nodulation assay. At 48 h after dsRNA treatment, 5×10⁵ cells of <i>E. coli</i> were injected and incubated for 8 h at 25°C. Control dsRNA was prepared against a viral gene, CpBV-ORF302. Each treatment was independently replicated three times. Different letters above error bars indicate significant difference among means at Type I error = 0.05 (LSD test).