title: Induction of innate immunity in lungs with virus-like nanoparticles leads to protection against influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae challenge.
abstract: Nanoparticles composed of the coat protein of a plant virus (papaya mosaic virus; PapMV) and a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) trigger a strong innate immune stimulation in the lungs of the animals a few hours following instillation. A rapid recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes follows. This treatment was able to provide protection to an influenza challenge that lasts at least 5 days. Protection could be recalled for longer periods by repeating the instillations once per week for more than 10 weeks. The treatment also conferred protection to a lethal challenge with Streptococcus pneumoniae--the major cause of bacterial pneumonia. Finally, we also showed that the nanoparticles could be used to treat mice infected with influenza and significantly decrease morbidity. These data strengthen the potential for using PapMV nanoparticles as non-specific inducers of the innate immune response in lungs during viral pandemics or to combat bioterrorist attack.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In this study, virus-like nanoparticles were utilized to induce innate immune responses in a mouse model. They were also demonstrated to provide enhanced immune responses during actual pneumonia and ongoing viral infection. Strategies like this may become very helpful in human applications, including bioterrorism countermeasures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Infectious Disease Research Centre/CHU de Québec, Laval University, Laurier, Quebec City, PQ, Canada.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Gervais
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rioux
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leclerc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009029:Mosaic Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines
keywords: Influenza; Innate immunity; Nanoparticles; Nanotubes; Papaya mosaic virus; Pneumococcus pneumoniae; Virus like particles