Antiviral Effect of Geraniol Derivatives G2 and G3 Against hRSV in A549 Cell Culture: An Evaluation of Mechanisms of Action.

• Grant number: 25/02113-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Fátima Pereira de Souza
• Grantee: Laura Picker Gallas Mussacredi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

hRSV (human respiratory syncytial virus) is one of the main causes of Viral Lower Res-piratory Tract Infection (LRTI), resulting in the hospitalization of millions of people glob-ally. Severe cases of the infection primarily affect children under two years old, the elder-ly, and immunocompromised individuals, who may develop chronic sequelae. The pro-gression of the infection to the lower respiratory tract intensifies symptoms and demands more resources for treatment, which represents a significant cost to the global economy. Furthermore, hRSV is highly contagious, often causing seasonal overcrowding in hospi-tals, yet there are still no specific treatments to mitigate the damage caused by the infec-tion. Ribavirin is widely used in the treatment of viral infections, but it has contraindica-tions and side effects associated with its use. Prophylactic measures are available for at-risk groups, such as the monoclonal antibodies Palivizumab and Nirsevimab, as well as the recently approved vaccines, Abrysvo and Arexvy. Although effective, these measures are not available to the entire population, which makes the search for new antiviral treat-ments an important research topic in need of further investigation to discover diverse anti-viral molecules. In this context, the investigation of natural-origin molecules has become a focus of research. Chalcones and monoterpenes are particularly noteworthy, as they are secondary plant metabolites that have previously been reported in the literature for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. Therefore, this project aims to continue the investigation of derivatives from these classes of molecules and analyze their in vitro mechanism through antiviral assays. Additionally, the goal is to understand the mechanism by which the compounds affect the virus's cycle in vitro and describe this mechanism of action. At the end of the project, the aim is to determine the potential antivi-ral activity of the compounds studied and identify new potential candidates for the treat-ment of hRSV infection.