Characterization of the lipidomic profile of BmN cells in response to Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus infection

Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV)that belongs to the genus Cypovirus in the family of Reoviridae is one of the problematic pathogens in sericulture. In our previous study, we have found that lipid-related constituents in the host cellular membrane are associated with the BmCPV life cycle. It is important to note that the lipids not only affect the cellular biological processes, they also impact the virus life cycle. However, the intracellular lipid homeostasis in BmN cells after BmCPV infection remains unclear. Here, the lipid metabolism in BmCPV-infected BmN cells was studied by lipidomics analysis. Our results revealed that the intracellular lipid homeostasis was disturbed in BmN cells upon BmCPV infection. Major lipids constituents in cellular membrane were found to be significantly induced upon BmCPV infection, which included triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, phospholipids, glucoside ceramide, monoetherphosphatidylcholin, ceramide, ceramide phosphoethanolamine and cardiolipin. Further analysis of the pathways related to these altered lipids (such as PE and PC) showed that glycerophospholipid metabolism was one of the most enriched pathways. These results suggested that BmCPV may manipulate the lipid metabolism of cells for their own interest. The findings may facilitate a better understanding of the roles of lipid metabolic changes during virus infection in future studies.