FATIMA, SADATULLADHANDORE, B. D2017-01-042017-01-0440865Th-9850http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/94283The silkworm, Bombyx mori L. is exploited both as a powerful biological model system and also as a tool to convert mulberry leaf into silk. Silkworm larvae often suffer from many diseases and insect pest infestation causing heavy losses to the economy of the sericulture industry. However silkworms also exhibit both humoral and cellular immune responses that are effective against various pathogens. So, an attempt was made to screen silkworm larvae and uji fly maggots for antimicrobial peptides against human pathogens and to study immune response of silkworms parasitized by uji fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis). Haemolymph extracts of healthy PM and CSR2, parasitized PM and CSR2 and whole body extract of uji fly were prepared by using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay against three test microorganisms viz., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Extracts of healthy PM, CSR2 larvae and uji maggots were found effective against E. coli the mean inhibitory zone were 46.72±3.42, 47.57±4.38 and 41.94±6.48 mm2 respectively. While the antimicrobial activity of healthy CSR2 In case of parasitized PM and CSR larvae was not exhibited against S. aureus. 2 the antimicrobial activity was seen only on the first day of parasitization. The extracts were found effective against E. coli and S. aureus. The mean zone of inhibition for PM and CSR2 against E. coli was found to be 50.61±5.15 and 43.93±6.03 mm2 respectively. The mean zone of inhibition of PM and CSR2 against S. aureus was found to be 41.97±1.87and 27.69±1.68 mm2 respectively. While all the extracts were found ineffective against C. albicans. The results show that infestation of uji fly had little or no influence on immune response of silkworm.enThesis