High-throughput screening identifies paullinic acid as an antiviral agent against Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus

  • Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2026 Jan;216(Pt 2):106810. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106810.
Zhenwei Jia  1 ,  Xiaoli Mo  1 ,  Shidong Jiang  2 ,  Li Sui  1 ,  Yiling Zhang  1 ,  Xueyang Wang  1 ,  Jie Cheng  1 ,  Ping Qian  1 ,  Xudong Tang  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
  • 2. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sericultural Genetic Improvement and Efficient Breeding, NanNing 530007, China; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Sericulture Technology Promotion Terminal, NanNing 530007, China.
  • 3. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China; Zhenjiang ZhongNong Biotechnology Co., LTD, Zhenjiang 212101, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41350064 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106810
Abstract

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a crucial pathogenic agent causing significant harm to sericulture industry, and currently, there are no therapeutic drugs available for the diseases caused by it. his study established a BmNPV-eGFP-based high-throughput screening platform to identify Antiviral compounds against BmNPV. Screening 235 natural products revealed paullinic acid as a potent inhibitor, reducing viral replication without cytotoxicity. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that paullinic acid suppressed BmNPV proliferation by disrupting lipid homeostasis, significantly lowering intracellular triacylglycerol (TAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and Cholesterol (CHO) levels-key factors facilitating viral replication. Crucially, Paullinia cupana extract (rich in paullinic acid) exhibited comparable Antiviral effects in vivo, increasing survival rates by 45 % in BmNPV-infected silkworms. Additional screening identified cyclosporin A and 1-methylinosine, and Fenofibrate as potential inhibitors. These findings validate natural products as promising sources for anti-BmNPV therapeutics and highlight lipid modulation as a novel Antiviral strategy for sericulture industry.

Keywords
Antiviral agents; BmNPV; High-throughput screening; Lipid metabolism; Paullinic acid; Silkworm.
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