Usually vaccination involves the introduction into the body of weakened or killed microorganisms (viruses), designed to create a stable immunity to possible future infectious diseases. However, according to the Institute of Physics portal, a group of American scientists has developed a new method of vaccination, which involves the use of gold nanoparticles with the ability to simulate the behavior of the virus and intended to deliver special types of proteins to the cells of the body's immune system.
In a recent study, scientists decided to test this method on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - a virus that causes respiratory infections in newborns and children, and from which, unfortunately, there is no vaccine. The difficulty lies in the fact that the F protein of the varion of the virus allows it to penetrate into the cells and causes plasma fusion of their membranes with neighboring cells. The natural human immune system itself can determine this protein, but researchers still have not found the right method of vaccination against this infection. The new method, in turn, allows the immune system to remember the situation in which infection occurs and respond to it in a timely manner.
In this study, scientists created a kind of gold nanotubes coated with a membrane of protein F of the RSV virus. The essence of the scientists' work was to identify the ability of these gold nanotubes to deliver F protein to the cells of the immune system using adult blood samples. As a result, it turned out that the gold particles were not only capable of simulating the behavior of the virus and stimulating the rapid response of the immune system, but also turned out to be harmless to healthy cells.
“The vaccine against RSV, which in turn is often the cause of viral pneumonia in children, is vital. This study shows that we have developed a method for the delivery of RSV virus F protein, in which this protein is transported to the cells of the immune system on special nanoparticles that mimic the behavior of the virus. Moreover, these particles themselves are not pathogenic, ”says Professor James Crowe, a lead scientist for this study.
Professor Crowe also believes that the use of these gold nanoparticles is not limited to the fight against RSV. Particles can be used to develop vaccines against almost any viruses, bacteria and fungal infections.
The article is based on materials .
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