BmVg interacts with SWP12, SWP26 and SWP30.

(A) Spores isolated from male pupae and deproteinized chitin spore coats (DCSCs) bound to female hemolymph (containing BmVg) labeled with anti-BmVg (Alexa488, green), spore nucleus was stained using DAPI (blue); DCSCs were labeled using FB28 (blue). Bars, 5 μm. (B) Yeast two-hybrid analysis of interactions among BmVg-VWD, BmVg-DUF1943 and SWP12, SWP26, SWP30. DDO, SD/-Leu/-Trp; QDO, SD/-Ade/-His/-Leu/-Trp.(C) An in vitro pull-down assay shows the interaction between VWD, DUF1943 and SWPs. (D) Western blot analysis on the binding of BmVg with the spores blocked by antibodies against SWP12, SWP26 and SWP30. FH, hemolymph of female pupae. (E) The pathogen load in ovarioles from pupae injected with SWP12, SWP26 and SWP30 was determined using qPCR with primers for N. bombycis β-tubulin. (F) The pathogen loads in eggs laid by pupae respectively injected with SWP12, SWP26, and SWP30 were determined using qPCR with primers for N. bombycis β-tubulin. Bars represent the means ± SD from three independent experiments. **, p < 0.01 (independent-sample t test).