Dr Adi Idris

Research problem to solve

RNA biologics are now emerging as realistic and achievable clinically translatable treatment modalities for a range of human diseases. Importantly, respiratory viruses and viral cancers are amenable to gene therapy-based targeting. Despite the deployment of several vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging, and a direct acting therapeutic is of dire need. Similarly direct acting antivirals against other emerging respiratory viruses, influenza A (IAV), respiratory syncytia virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is needed. There is an urgent need to bring new antivirals for SARS-CoV-2, IAV RSV, and hMPV into the pharmaceutical market.

Research approach

We have been exploring the use of RNAi (RNAi) to directly target SARS-CoV-2 and RSV and show that RNAi is an effective approach to reducing, or even eliminating viral replication in animals. Notably, we have developed lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) that effectively delivers short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) via intravenous and intranasal routes to target SARS-CoV-2 and RSV infection in lungs. Efforts are now aimed at exploring this approach for hMPV.

Research significance

Our approach will not only result in the ushering in of an entirely new cost-effective and rapidly deployable RNA platform technology, but also could deliver the first in class RNA drugs suitable for any new RNA respiratory viruses of concern.

• Supramaniam, A., Tayyar, Y., Clarke, D., Kelly, G., Acharya, D., Morris, K., McMillan, N. & Idris, A. (2023). Prophylactic intranasal administration of lipid nanoparticle formulated siRNAs reduce SARS-CoV-2 and RSV lung infection. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection, 56(3), 516–525. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238956
• Ferreira, D., Idris, A. & McMillan, N. (2023). Analysis of a hit-and-run tumor model by HPV in oropharyngeal cancers. Journal of Medical Virology, 95(1). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237147
• McMillan, N., Morris, K. & Idris, A. (2022). RNAi to treat SARS-CoV-2-variant proofing the next generation of therapies. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 14(4). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237449
• Scott, T., Supramaniam, A., Idris, A., Cardoso, A., Shrivastava, S., Kelly, G., Grepo, N., Soemardy, C., Ray, R., McMillan, N. & Morris, K. (2022). Engineered extracellular vesicles directed to the spike protein inhibit SARS-CoV-2. Molecular Therapy - Methods and Clinical Development, 24, 355–366. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237189
• Ferreira, D., McMillan, N. & Idris, A. (2022). Genetic deletion of HPV E7 oncogene effectively regresses HPV driven oral squamous carcinoma tumour growth. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 155. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237192
• Idris, A., Davis, A., Supramaniam, A., Acharya, D., Kelly, G., Tayyar, Y., West, N., Zhang, P., McMillan, C., Soemardy, C., Ray, R., O'Meally, D., Scott, T., McMillan, N. & Morris, K. (2021). A SARS-CoV-2 targeted siRNA-nanoparticle therapy for COVID-19. Molecular Therapy, 29(7), 2219–2226. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237187
• Bortnik, V., Wu, M., Julcher, B., Salinas, A., Nikolic, I., Simpson, K., McMillan, N. & Idris, A. (2021). Loss of HPV type 16 E7 restores cGAS-STING responses in human papilloma virus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas cells. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection, 54(4), 733–739. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237183
• Shaikh, M., Bortnik, V., McMillan, N. & Idris, A. (2019). cGAS-STING responses are dampened in high-risk HPV type 16 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. Microbial Pathogenesis, 132, 162–165. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237456
• Fahmi, M., Haris, A., Permana, A., Nor Wibowo, D., Purwanto, B., Nikmah, Y. & Idris, A. (2018). Bamboo leaf-based carbon dots for efficient tumor imaging and therapy. RSC Advances, 8(67), 38376–38383. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237164

Title

Developing a Universal Direct Acting Antiviral Nasal Spray Against Multiple Respiratory Viruses

Primary fund type

CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant

Project ID

2027569

Start year

2024

Keywords

Coronavirus; RNA interference; nanotechnology; respiratory syncytial virus; gene delivery

Title

Disassembled/Reassembled Extracellular Vesicles (DR-EVs) - A New Class of Nanoparticles for Disease Treatment

Primary fund type

CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant

Project ID

2027649

Start year

2024

Keywords

nanotechnology; vaccination; messenger RNA (mRNA); RNA interference; gene therapy