Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a widely distributed virus.HSV-1 is a growing public health concern due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains and the current lack of a clinically specific drug for treatment.In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the development of peptide antivirals.Natural host-defense peptides which have uniquely evolved to protect the host have been reported to have antiviral properties.
Cathelicidins are a family of multi-functional antimicrobial peptides found in almost all vertebrate species and play a vital role in the immune system.In this study, Buffered C we demonstrated the anti-HSV-1 effect of an antiviral peptide named WL-1 derived from human cathelicidin.We found that WL-1 inhibited HSV-1 infection in epithelial and neuronal cells.Furthermore, the administration of WL-1 improved the survival rate and reduced viral load and inflammation during HSV-1 infection via ocular scarification.
Moreover, facial nerve dysfunction, involving the abnormal blink reflex, nose position, and vibrissae movement, and pathological injury were prevented when HSV-1 ear 1 TO 1 BAKING FLOUR inoculation-infected mice were treated with WL-1.Together, our findings demonstrate that WL-1 may be a potential novel antiviral agent against HSV-1 infection-induced facial palsy.