Prophylactic efficacy of orally administered Bacillus poly-γ-glutamic acid, a non-LPS TLR4 ligand, against norovirus infection in mice

Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 6;8(1):8667. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26935-y.

Abstract

Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), an extracellular biopolymer produced by Bacillus sp., is a non-canonical toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist. Here we show its antiviral efficacy against noroviruses. γ-PGA with a molecular mass of 2,000-kDa limited murine norovirus (MNV) replication in the macrophage cell line RAW264.7 by inducing interferon (IFN)-β and conferred resistance to viral infection-induced cell death. Additionally, γ-PGA interfered with viral entry into cells. The potent antiviral state mounted by γ-PGA was not attributed to the upregulation of TLR4 or TLR3, a sensor known to recognize norovirus RNA. γ-PGA sensing by TLR4 required the two TLR4-associated accessory factors MD2 and CD14. In ex vivo cultures of mouse ileum, γ-PGA selectively increased the expression of IFN-β in villi. In contrast, IFN-β induction was negligible in the ileal Peyer's patches (PPs) where its expression was primarily induced by the replication of MNV. Oral administration of γ-PGA, which increased serum IFN-β levels without inducing proinflammatory cytokines, reduced MNV loads in the ileum with PPs and mesenteric lymph nodes in mice. Our results disclose a γ-PGA-mediated non-conventional TLR4 signaling in the ileum, highlighting the potential use of γ-PGA as a prophylactic antiviral agent against noroviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bacillus / chemistry
  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / prevention & control*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Norovirus / drug effects*
  • Norovirus / immunology
  • Polyglutamic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Polyglutamic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polyglutamic Acid / chemistry
  • Polyglutamic Acid / pharmacology
  • Polyglutamic Acid / therapeutic use
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • poly(gamma-glutamic acid)
  • Polyglutamic Acid