Comparative anti-viral immune strategies in insects and vertebrates: Insights from Bombyx mori.
Antiviral immunity is a conserved biological process that is critical for host survival, although its strategies vary among taxa. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, serves as a unique invertebrate model for studying both conserved and species-specific antiviral mechanisms, with implications for fundamental biology and sericulture. Here, we integrate and compare classical signalling pathways, epigenetic regulation, and RNA-mediated defenses to demonstrate how these mechanisms coordinate to regulate antiviral immune responses. Comparative analyses reveal conserved processes such as RNA interference, alongside insect-specific adaptations, such as melanization, which differ from vertebrate interferon responses. We also discuss emerging technologies, including live-cell imaging, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and CRISPR-based functional genomics, which are revolutionizing the study of host-virus interactions at unprecedented resolution. Translational opportunities consist of engineering virus-resistant silkworm strains and developing RNA-based antiviral strategies. In conclusion, we present an integrated network model linking signalling, RNA, and epigenetic regulation across species, providing a conceptual framework to guide mechanistic studies, cross-species comparisons, and the development of next-generation antiviral strategies.