Intranasal gene transfer by chitosan-DNA nanospheres protects BALB/c mice against acute respiratory syncytial virus infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is often associated in infancy with life-threatening bronchiolitis, which is also a major risk factor for the development of asthma. At present, no effective prophylaxis is available against RSV infection. Herein, we describe an effective prophylactic intranasal gene transfer strategy utilizing chitosan-DNA nanospheres (IGT), containing a cocktail of plasmid DNAs encoding all RSV antigens, except L. A single administration of IGT (25 microg/mouse) induces expression of the mRNA and proteins of all antigens in the lung and results in a significant reduction of viral titers and viral antigen load after acute RSV infection of these mice. IGT-administered mice show no significant change in airway reactivity to methacholine and no apparent pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, IGT results in significant induction of RSV-specific IgG antibodies, nasal IgA antibodies, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and interferon-gamma production in the lung and splenocytes compared with controls. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of IGT against acute RSV infection.