Chitin-lipid interactions and the potential relationship between Demodex and SARS-CoV-2

Already from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory agencies have attempted to ascertain the possible routes of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission. It is hypothesized that the lipid bilayer that surrounds the SARS-CoV-2 improves its ability to remain stable on sebum-rich skin and serves as another possible route of contracting the virus. One possible aspect of these observations that has yet to be explored in detail is what role arthropods that have been associated with human skin infestation, such as Demodecidae or Pyemotidae species, play in viral transmission. It seems likely that arthropod-coronavirus interactions may take place through the molecular attraction forces between the chitin found on the exoskeleton of mites commonly found on human skin and the lipids present on the viral envelope of the SARS-CoV-2. We believe this may mean that arthropods are currently an overlooked cofactor in viral infection which may have some important biomedical implications for both prevention and treatment.