Effect of Partially Purified Protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain AC-3 on Antheraea assama Westwood Larvae

The protease released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain AC-3, a causal organism of flacherie disease in Antheraea assama Westwood silkworms, was characterized and its activity against muga silkworm larvae was assessed in laboratory studies. When grown in casein broth maximum protease production occurred when the strain was cultivated for 60 h. This protease was partially purified by acetone precipitation and subjected to SDS-PAGE. Its molecular weight was approximately 35,000 da. The partially purified protease reduced larval survivability in vivo. The hemolymph protein profile revealed an apparent detrimental effect of the protease on biologically important proteins of silkworm larvae.