Study of the mechanisms of action of chalcone derivatives (syringaldehyde and licochalcone) on infection caused by the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in cell culture

• Grant number: 24/09638-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Fátima Pereira de Souza
• Grantee: Larissa Fernanda Borges de Oliveira
• 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

The hRSV is among the main causative agents of ARI that affect the lower respiratory tract in children under one year of age, being responsible for most cases of pneumonia and bronchiolitis. The increase in infections poses a challenge to public health, especially for hospitals and clinical centers. In response to this issue, there is a search for effective methods to combat hRSV infections. Currently, treatment involves prophylactic measures such as the administration of antibodies like Palivizumab or its derivatives, and the use of antivirals like Ribavirin. However, these medications are primarily administered to at-risk groups due to their high cost and potential severe side effects. Regarding vaccination, the FDA has licensed vaccines such as Arexvy® and Abrysvo" for the elderly and pregnant women. Although these vaccines have shown efficacy, their long-term impact on the vaccinated community remains uncertain. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the search for various therapies and compounds, which should be clinically tested, aiming for new preventive immunization strategies. Our research group has been working for some time with natural compounds as antiviral candidates, including chalcone derivatives, which have shown promising antiviral effects. Our main focus is to understand the mechanisms of action of these derivatives in cellular protection against hRSV in cell culture, using the A549 cell line. Additionally, we intend to investigate the relationship between the progression of hRSV infection and the action of these molecules. We will evaluate the impact that these molecules have on pro-inflammatory cytokines and exosomes released during the infection process. With this, we aim to map the communication, inhibition, and induction pathways, as well as the routes involved in cellular defense against hRSV infection in the presence of these molecules. Our expectation is that, through this work, effective and low-cost antiviral therapy alternatives can be proposed. (AU)