Current use of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) as an animal model in pharmaco-medical research

Abstract

We advocate the use of silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori, as an animal model for discovery of drug candidates. We have established several disease models using silkworms, which offer technical advantages in drug development and the study of host-pathogen interaction. This mini review briefly describes recent trends in the use of silkworm larvae as a non-mammalian model for drug discovery and it offers suggestions regarding the potential for silkworm use in pharmaceutical-biomedical research.