Topical application of aminoglycoside antibiotics enhances host resistance to viral infections in a microbiota-independent manner.

ABSTRACT: Antibiotics are widely used to treat infections in humans. However, the impact of antibiotic use on host cells is understudied. Here we identify an antiviral effect of commonly used aminoglycoside antibiotics. We show that topical mucosal application of aminoglycosides prophylactically increased host resistance to a broad range of viral infections including herpes simplex viruses, influenza A virus and Zika virus. Aminoglycoside treatment also reduced viral replication in primary human cells. This antiviral activity was independent of the microbiota, because aminoglycoside treatment protected germ-free mice. Microarray analysis uncovered a marked upregulation of transcripts for interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) following aminoglycoside application. ISG induction was mediated by Toll-like

SUBMITTER: Gopinath S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5918160 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature