title: Gold nanorods inhibit respiratory syncytial virus by stimulating the innate immune response.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants, children and older adults. The use of metallic nanoparticles as potential therapeutics is being explored against respiratory viruses like Influenza, Parainfluenza and Adenovirus. In this study, we showed that gold nanorods (GNRs) inhibit RSV in HEp-2 cells and BALB/c mice by 82% and 56%, respectively. The RSV inhibition correlated with marked upregulated antiviral genes due to GNR mediated TLR, NOD-like receptor and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways. Transmission electron microscopy of lungs showed GNRs in the endocytotic vesicles and histological analyses indicated infiltration by neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes correlating with clearance of RSV. In addition, production of cytokines and chemokines in the lungs indicates recruitment of immune cells to counter RSV replication. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro and in vivo report that provides possible antiviral mechanisms of GNRs against RSV.
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Swapnil S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bawage
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Pooja M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Shreekumar R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Vida A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA. Electronic address: ssingh@alasu.edu.
authors.forename: Shree R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D043942:Nanotubes; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: Antiviral; Bronchiolitis; Gold nanorods; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Pneumonia