title: Inhibition of cytomegalovirus infection and photothermolysis of infected cells using bioconjugated gold nanoparticles.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a herpesvirus that causes major health problems in neonates as well as in immunocompromised individuals. At present, a vaccine is not available for CMV infection and the available antiviral drugs suffer from toxicity, poor efficacy and resistance. Here, we chemically conjugated a monoclonal antibody raised against CMV surface glycoprotein (gB) with gold nanoparticles (GNP) and characterized the potential of this gB-GNP conjugate for antiviral activity against CMV. The gB-GNP blocks viral replication, virus-induced cytopathogenic effects and virus spread in cell culture without inducing cytotoxicity. High concentrations of gB-GNP that coat the surface of virus particles block virus entry, whereas lower concentrations block a later stage of virus life cycle. Also, cells treated with gB-GNP gain resistance to CMV infection. In addition, infected cells when bound to gB-GNP can be selectively lysed after exposing them to specific wavelength of laser (nanophotothermolysis). Thus, we have not only designed a potential antiviral strategy that specifically blocks CMV infection at multiple stages of virus life cycle, but we have also characterized a technique that can potentially be useful in eliminating CMV infected cells from donor tissue during transplant or transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Bernadette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: DeRussy
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Madeline A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aylward
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
authors.forename: Paresh C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016378:Tissue Transplantation; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D006046:Gold