Expression profile analysis of circular RNAs in BmN cells (Bombyx mori) upon BmNPV infection

Abstract The disease caused by Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) has always been difficult to control, resulting in tremendous economic losses in the sericulture industry. Although much has been learned about the impact of noncoding RNAs on pathogenesis, the role of circular RNA (circRNA) in insect immunity remains unclear. To explore circRNA regulation involved in BmNPV infection, we used transcriptome analysis of BmN cells with or without BmNPV infection to generate circRNA data set. A total of 444 novel circRNAs were identified in BmN cells, with 198 pervasively distributed both in the control group and BmNPV‐infection group. The host genes were enriched inMAPK signaling pathway, dorso–ventral axis formation, and ECM–receptor interaction, which were required for the normal larval growth. A total of 75 circRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) on BmNPV infection. Six downregulated circRNAs were validated by Sanger sequencing and qRT‐PCR. DEcircRNA–miRNA–DEmRNA network was constructed based on the six validated circRNAs. Pathway analysis indicated that the predicted target genes were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathway and immune‐related signaling pathway. Our results may provide a basis for further studies on circRNA function in BmN cells challenged by BmNPV infection and offer an insight into the molecular mechanism on silkworm–virus interaction.