Silver nanoparticles with epigallocatechingallate and zinc sulphate significantly inhibits avian influenza A virus H9N2.

Avian influenza (AI) has become a disease of great importance for human and animal health. Beside adverse side effects, there is resistance mutation for about all the conventional drugs that target viral proteins. This study aimed to evaluate antiviral activity of silver nanoparticles combined with epigallocatechingallate (EGCG-AgNPs) and co-administered with zinc sulphate (Zn+2) as alternative treatment strategy to control AI H9N2. EGCG conjugated silver nanoparticles (EGCG-AgNPs) were synthesized. Virus propagation was performed using embryonated Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) hen's eggs. Viral EID50 titers were determined before and after treatments. The antiviral activity was determined as Log virucidal reduction. A commercial tetrazolium MTS assay kit was used to determine cytotoxicity. Results showed that 50 µM EGCG was the most significant concentration reduced the logEID50/mL of AI H9N2. Co-treatment with zinc sulphate (1.3 mg/mL) increased the EGCG antiviral effect. The most effective antiviral activity was obtained when combined EGCG-AgNPs with zinc sulphate with the greatest virucidal log reduction. No cytotoxic effect in Vero cells was observed among all of these forms at concentrations of interest used in this study. In conclusion, the topical application of EGCG-AgNPs/ZnSO4 demands additional antiviral strategies against H9N2 AI. This combination may prevent virus transmission, inhibit virus replication within neighboring cells and inhibit microbial resistance by making microbial adaptability very difficult.

Perinatal transmission of hepatitis C antigens: envelope 1, envelope 2 and non-structural 4.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens during pregnancy may affect the developing immune system in the fetus. We aimed to study the perinatal transmission of HCV structural and non-structural antigens. METHODS: Sera from 402 pregnant mothers were tested for anti-HCV antibody and HCV RNA. HCV antigens were determined in sera from 101 HCV-infected mothers and their cord blood. RESULTS: In both serum and cord blood samples, HCV NS4 (non-structural 4) at 27 kDa, E1 (envelope 1) at 38 kDa and E2 (envelope 2) at 40 kDa were identified, purified and quantified using western blotting, electroelution and ELISA. Maternal sera and neonate cord blood samples had similar detection rates for NS4 (94.1%), E1 (90.1%) and E2 (90.1%). The mean maternal serum levels (optical density, OD) of HCV NS4 (0.87 ± 0.01), E1 (0.86 ± 0.01) and E2 (0.85 ± 0.01) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from those of neonatal cord blood (0.83 ± 0.01, 0.87 ± 0.01 and 0.85 ± 0.01, respectively). Also, strong correlations (p < 0.0001) were shown between sera and cord blood sample levels of HCV NS4, r = 0.77; E1, r = 0.76 and E2, r = 0.80. The vertical transmission of these antigens in vaginal delivery did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from those in caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that vertical transmission of HCV NS4, E1 and E2 antigens was very high. Thus, exposure to these antigens may influence the developing immune responses to natural infection or future vaccination.