Nanosilica mops up host lipids and fights baculovirus: a B. mori model

TL;DR

This study explores using nanosilica to reduce host lipids and combat baculovirus infection in silkworms, suggesting potential broad-spectrum antiviral applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel application of nanosilica to mitigate virus-induced lipid increases in silkworms, offering a new antiviral strategy.

Findings

Partial success in silkworms infected with BmNPV

Nanosilica reduces viral impact by mop-up of host lipids

Potential for broad-spectrum antiviral use

Abstract

Malaria and other parasites, including virus often induce an increase in host lipids which the invaders use to their own advantage. We obtained encouraging results in our investigations on bird malaria with a new approach namely the use of nanosilica to mop up excess host lipids. While this project is continuing we have investigated another, simpler system namely silkworms which suffer from a deadly baculovirus, BmNPV. This virus decimates the infected population within 24 hours or so and no known antibiotic antidote or genetically resistant strain of silkworm3 exists. We report here a partial success, which is worth following up. Our rationale, we believe, has a broad and interdisciplinary appeal, for, this nanosilica treatment might be used together with other arsenals on all sorts of virus which take advantage of enhanced host lipids. It has not escaped our notice that Ebola and HIV also belong to this category. Nanoparticles are being preferentially harnessed, because they offer a greater surface area, circulate more easily and in lepidopteran system4 they are removed within 24 hours from the body. Lawry surmised, on cogent theoretical grounds that particles significantly smaller than micron order would be less harmful in the hemocoele. Furthermore, Hui-peng et al. pointed out that lipase treatment, the only viable option for controlling BmNPV interferes in hormonal balance and cannot be applied to pre molting stage.