Investigation of the Inhibition Activity of Aluminium Oxide Nanoparticles for Herpes Simplex Type 1.

Several studies have shown that Herpes simplex type 1 )HSV-1 (is one of the viruses resistant to medications, so potential antiherpetic agents need to be evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles (Al2O3-NPs) on HSV-1 infection. Characterization of Al2O3-NPs was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The MTT test was used to investigate the toxicity action of Al2O3-NPs on viable cells. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR)and TCID50 assays were used to achieve the antiherpetic performance Al2O3-NPs.Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed to determine the inhibitory impact of Al2O3-NPs on viral antigen expression, and acyclovir was utilized as a standard agent in all tests. HSV-1 subjected to Al2O3-NPs at the maximum non-toxic concentration (100 µg / mL) leads to a decrease of 0.1, 0.7, 1.8, and 2.5 log10 TCID50 in the infectious titer relative to virus control (P<0.0001). This concentration of Al2O3-NPs was correlated with 16.9%, 47.1 %, 61.2 %, 72.5 % and 74.6 % inhibition rates, calculated based on HSV-1 viral load compared to virus control. Our results have shown that Al2O3-NPs have a robust antiviral activity against HSV-1. This function demonstrates excellent potential for using Al2O3-NP in topical formulations for treating orolabial or genital herpetic lesions.

Fatal herpes simplex infection in a pygmy African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris).

An adult pygmy African hedgehog developed acute posterior paresis attributed to a prolapsed intervertebral disc diagnosed by C-T scan. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in prompt resolution of the ataxia, but 2 weeks later the animal became anorexic and died. Macroscopically, the liver was stippled with punctate off-white foci which were confirmed microscopically to be foci of necrosis. Numerous hepatocytes contained intranuclear inclusions and syncytial cell formation was also present. A herpes virus was isolated and identified by fluorescent antibody and polymerase chain reaction studies as herpesvirus simplex type 1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of herpes infection in the African hedgehog and the first time herpes simplex has been identified as a cause of disease in insectivores.