Mechanical behaviour and formation process of silkworm silk gut

High performance silk fibers were produced directly from the silk glands of silkworms ("Bombyx mori") following an alternative route to natural spinning. This route is based on a traditional procedure that consists of soaking the silk glands in a vinegar solution and stretching them by hand leading to the so called silkworm guts. Here we present, to the authors’ best knowledge, the first comprehensive study on the formation, properties and microstructure of silkworm gut fibers. Comparison of the tensile properties and microstructural organization of the silkworm guts with those of naturally spun fibers allows gain of a deeper insight into the mechanisms that lead to the formation of the fiber, as well as the relationship between the microstructure and properties of these materials. In this regard, it is proved that an acidic environment and subsequent application of tensile stress in the range of 1000 kPa are sufficient conditions for the formation of a silk fiber.

Purification and molecular cloning of an inducible gram-negative bacteria-binding protein from the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

A 50-kDa hemolymph protein, having strong affinity to the cell wall of Gram(-) bacteria, was purified from the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The cDNA encoding this Gram(-) bacteria-binding protein (GNBP) was isolated from an immunized silkworm fat body cDNA library and sequenced. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with known sequences revealed that GNBP contained a region displaying significant homology to the putative catalytic region of a group of bacterial beta-1,3 glucanases and beta-1,3-1,4 glucanases. Silkworm GNBP was also shown to have amino acid sequence similarity to the vertebrate lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14 and was recognized specifically by a polygonal anti-CD14 antibody. Northern blot analysis showed that GNBP was constitutively expressed in fat body, as well as in cuticular epithelial cells of naive silkworms. Intense transcription was, however, rapidly induced following a cuticular or hemoceolien bacterial challenge. An mRNA that hybridized with GNBP cDNA was also found in the l(2)mbn immunocompetent Drosophila cell line. These observations suggest that GNBP is an inducible acute phase protein implicated in the immune response of the silkworm and perhaps other insects.

Yu zhi geng zhi tu,

Mode of access: Internet.

Annuario.

v.43 out of print.

De l'éducation des vers à soie en Chine /

Mode of access: Internet.

Indian museum notes.

CONTENTS.--vol. I, no. 1. Notes on Indian insect pests. 1889. no. 2. Notes on Indian economic entomology. 1889. no. 3. Silkworms in India. 1890. no. 4. Notes on Indian economic entomology. 1890.--vol. II, no. 1. Economic entomology. 1891. no. 2. The wild silk insects of India. 1891. no. 3. On white insect wax in India. 1891. no. 4. The locusts of Bengal, Madras, Assam, and Bombay. 1891. no. 5. [Economic entomology, etc.] 1891. no. 6. A conspectus of the insects which affect crops in India. 1893.--vol. III, no. 1-3. [Notes on Indian insect pests, etc.] 1893-94. no. 4. An account of the insects and mites which attack the tea plant in India. 1895. no. 5-6. [Entomological notes] 1894-96.--vol. IV-vol. VI, no. 1. [Notes on Indian insect pests] 1896-1903.

Dissertatio academica, de phalæna bombyce ... /

Also published in Linné's Amoenitates academicae, v. 4, ed. 1, 1759 (and 1760); ed. 2, 1788, p. 553-564. Translation: On the silk worm, Brand, Select diss., 1781, p. 437-456. cf. Hulth, Bibl. Linn. (1907) p. 105.

Account of the Tusseh and Arrindy silk-worms of Bengal /

Mode of access: Internet.

The art of rearing silk-worms.

Translation of Dell'arte de governare i bachi da seta.

Deutliche Anweisung, wie mit Säung des Maulbeer-Saamens : Pflanzung und Wartung der Maulbeer-bäume, desgleichen Wartung und Fütterung der Seiden-Würmer, auch Haspelung der feinen Seide ; Zubereitung der Flock-Seide, und dem wahren Gebrauch beider Arten Seide, vernünftig und mit Vertheil zu verfahren sey. Nach vieljähriger Untersuchung und mancherley gemachten Proben, zum Besten des gemeinen Wesens an das Licht gestellet, von einem Liebhaber des Seiden-Baues.

Deutliche Anweisung, wie mit Säung des Maulbeer-Saamens (67 p.)-- Kurze nachricht, von Haspelung der feinen Seide, von Zubereitung der Flock-Seide, und vom Gebrauch bender Arten Seide, 1750 (262, [10] p.)-- Kurze abhandlung von dem seidenbau in Berlin und churmark Brandenburg, 1756 (14 p.).

Woodland Cottage, or, Henry and Emma Acton's conversations to their children, on the animal and vegetable world. /

Publisher's advetisements on back cover.

The silk culture in the United States; embracing complete accounts of the latest and most approved modes of hatching, rearing and feeding the silk-worm, managing a cocoonery, reeling, spinning, and manufacturing the silk, &c. ... With brief historical sketches of the silk business, natural history of the silk-worm, the mulberry, &c. comp. from the most approved and reliable works ... To which is added Blydenburgh's Manual of the silk culture; statistics of silk imports, &c., &c.

"The work ... has been prepared ... with the aid of Mr. I. R. Barbour ... we have ... profited by the article on silk in Dr. Ures ... dictionary of arts and sciences, Mr. Bliss's report on silk ... to the legislature of Ohio, Mr. Colman's report to the Massachusetts legislature, &c.; while we have quoted entire The silk manual of ... Mr. Blydenburgh." Advertisement, p. [3]

Laurentii Patarol Opera omnia : quorum pleraque nunc primum in lucem prodeunt.

Includes 29 folded plates.

Rapport à S. E. le ministre de l'agriculture, du commerce et travaux publics, sur les progrès de la culture de l'ailante et de l'éducation du ver à soie (Bombyx cynthia) que l'on élève en plein air sur ce végétal,

Mode of access: Internet.

Das ganze des seidenbaues : oder, Theoretisch-praktische anweisung zur maulbeerbaum- und seidenraupenzucht.

Mode of access: Internet.