Synthesis and evaluation of polyamine carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in Litopenaeus vannamei as a therapeutic agent against WSSV

Abstract

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the causative agent of white spot syndrome (WSS), a disease that has led to severe mortality rates in cultured shrimp all over the world. The WSSV is a large, ellipsoid, enveloped double-stranded DNA virus with a wide host range among crustaceans. Currently, the main antiviral method is to block the receptor of the host cell membrane using recombinant viral proteins or virus antiserum. In addition to interference with the ligand-receptor binding, disrupting the structure of the virus envelope may also be a means to combat the viral infection. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are carbonaceous nanoparticles that have many advantageous characteristics, including small size, low cytotoxicity, cheap, and ease of production and modification. Polyamine-modified CQDs (polyamine CQDs) with strong antibacterial ability have been identified, previously. In this study, polyamine CQDs are shown to attach to the WSSV envelope and inhibit the virus infection, with a dose-dependent effect. The results also show that polyamine CQDs can upregulate several immune genes in shrimp and reduce the mortality upon WSSV infection. This is first study to identify that polyamine CQDs could against the virus. These results, indeed, provide a direction to develop effective antiviral strategies or therapeutic methods using polyamine CQDs in aquaculture.

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“…These Polyamine CQDs, with a dose-dependent effect, attach to the virus envelope and inhibit its infection and also reduce the mortality upon WSSV infection. 264 In another report, Huang et al explored benzoxazine monomer-derived CDs (BZM-CDs) for their virus infection-blocking ability against life-threatening flaviviruses (Japanese encephalitis, Zika, and dengue viruses) and nonenveloped viruses (porcine parvovirus and adenovirus-associated virus). The results conclude that BZM-CDs can directly obstruct the first step of virus-cell interaction by binding to the virion’s surface, which proves that BZM-CDs are active against both types of viruses in vitro.…”

Exploring the Potential of Carbon Dots to Combat COVID-19

“…This virus causes white spot syndrome in cultured shrimps which has led to high mortality rates in culture shrimps around the globe. The viral inhibitory effect of this polyamine capped carbon dots was confirmed through in vivo experiments (Huang et al, 2020).…”

“…Polyamine-modified carbon quantum dots were proved to inhibit White spot syndrome virus infection by attaching to the viral envelope in a dose-dependant manner (Huang et al, 2020). Carbon dots were synthesized by direct pyrolysis by heating of spermidine powder (Jian et al, 2017).…”

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“…This study adopted a method of CQDs fodders preparation based on a previous study [ 36 ]. In summary, the two CQDs were separately dissolved in deionized water (10 ppm, 2 mL), and sprayed uniformly onto 20 g of commercial fodders (final concentration 1 ppm).…”