Supporting data for "Dual-function peptides carrying defective interfering genes against influenza virus".

This study was conducted to investigate novel dual-functional peptides carrying defective interfering genes (DIGs) targeting the influenza virus. These DIGs are short viral genome segments that interfere with the replication of wild-type viruses. Three types of DIGs were designed from polymerase genes based on the influenza virus genome: DI-PB1, DI-PB2, and DI-PAD3. These DIGs generate defective viruses and competitively inhibit the growth of wild-type viruses. To enhance the efficiency of DIG transfection in vitro and in vivo, a dual-functional peptide, TAT2-P1-LAH4, was identified; this peptide can form a uniform spherical nanoparticle, smaller than 140 nanometres, that effectively increases DIG expression in the lung airways. The 7A8DF peptide series, which enabled efficient gene delivery, inhibited conformational changes in hemagglutinin by binding to it and preventing the virus from infecting cells. Protection experiments involving animals showed that pre-inoculation of mice with peptide–DIG nanoparticles before influenza infection significantly reduced the viral load in the mouse lungs. This peptide-based nanoparticle system exhibited antiviral properties and efficient gene transfection in the lungs and inhibited infectious live virus production by delivering DIGs in vivo, thus providing new insights. Introducing this system into gene therapy drug delivery systems targeting respiratory viruses could effectively prevent influenza infections.