Development and characterization of a new Bombyx mori cell line for protein expression

► New Bombyx mori cell line (DZNU-Bm-17) is established from larval ovaries. ► Growth rate is high with cell doubling time of 30-34 h. ► Susceptibility of cells to wild type BmNPV is 85-92%. ► Cells expressed luciferase and GFP using BmNPV bacmid vector. ► Cell line is useful in BmNPV‐based baculoviral expression studies.