1
|
Nazneen F, Thompson EA, Blackwell C, Bai JS, Huang F, Bai F. An effective live-attenuated Zika vaccine candidate with a modified 5' untranslated region. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:50. [PMID: 37005424 PMCID: PMC10066991 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00650-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that has caused devastating congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), including microcephaly, congenital malformation, and fetal demise in human newborns in recent epidemics. ZIKV infection can also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and meningoencephalitis in adults. Despite intensive research in recent years, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral therapeutics against CZS and adult Zika diseases. In this report, we developed a novel live-attenuated ZIKV strain (named Z7) by inserting 50 RNA nucleotides (nt) into the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of a pre-epidemic ZIKV Cambodian strain, FSS13025. We used this particular ZIKV strain as it is attenuated in neurovirulence, immune antagonism, and mosquito infectivity compared with the American epidemic isolates. Our data demonstrate that Z7 replicates efficiently and produces high titers without causing apparent cytopathic effects (CPE) in Vero cells or losing the insert sequence, even after ten passages. Significantly, Z7 induces robust humoral and cellular immune responses that completely prevent viremia after a challenge with a high dose of an American epidemic ZIKV strain PRVABC59 infection in type I interferon (IFN) receptor A deficient (Ifnar1-/-) mice. Moreover, adoptive transfer of plasma collected from Z7 immunized mice protects Ifnar1-/- mice from ZIKV (strain PRVABC59) infection. These results suggest that modifying the ZIKV 5' UTR is a novel strategy to develop live-attenuated vaccine candidates for ZIKV and potentially for other flaviviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzana Nazneen
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - E Ashley Thompson
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Claire Blackwell
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Jonathan S Bai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Faqing Huang
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Program, Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Agarwal A, Sarma DK, Chaurasia D, Maan HS. Novel molecular approaches to combat vectors and vector-borne viruses: Special focus on RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106539. [PMID: 35623398 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, zika, yellow fever etc pose significant burden among the infectious diseases globally, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, deforestation, urbanization, climate change, uncontrolled population growth, inadequate waste management and poor vector-management infrastructure have all contributed to the expansion of vector habitats and subsequent increase in vector-borne diseases throughout the world. Conventional vector control methods, such as use of insecticides, have significant negative environmental repercussions in addition to developing resistance in vectors. Till date, a very few vaccines or antiviral therapies have been approved for the treatment of vector borne diseases. In this review, we have discussed emerging molecular approaches like CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas-9, sterile insect technique (SIT), release of insects carrying a dominant lethal (RIDL), Wolbachia (virus transmission blocking) and RNA interference (RNAi) to combat vector and vector-borne viruses. Due to the extensive advancements in RNAi research, a special focus has been given on its types, biogenesis, mechanism of action, delivery and experimental studies evaluating their application as anti-mosquito and anti-viral agent. These technologies appear to be highly promising in terms of contributing to vector control and antiviral drug development, and hence can be used to reduce global vector and vector-borne disease burden.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Agarwal
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
| | - Devojit Kumar Sarma
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal 462030, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Deepti Chaurasia
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Harjeet Singh Maan
- State Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal 462001, Madhya Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
To accelerate the Zika beat: Candidate design for RNA interference-based therapy. Virus Res 2018; 255:133-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
4
|
Qureshi A, Tantray VG, Kirmani AR, Ahangar AG. A review on current status of antiviral siRNA. Rev Med Virol 2018; 28:e1976. [PMID: 29656441 PMCID: PMC7169094 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Viral diseases like influenza, AIDS, hepatitis, and Ebola cause severe epidemics worldwide. Along with their resistant strains, new pathogenic viruses continue to be discovered so creating an ongoing need for new antiviral treatments. RNA interference is a cellular gene‐silencing phenomenon in which sequence‐specific degradation of target mRNA is achieved by means of complementary short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Short interfering RNA technology affords a potential tractable strategy to combat viral pathogenesis because siRNAs are specific, easy to design, and can be directed against multiple strains of a virus by targeting their conserved gene regions. In this review, we briefly summarize the current status of siRNA therapy for representative examples from different virus families. In addition, other aspects like their design, delivery, medical significance, bioinformatics resources, and limitations are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abid Qureshi
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, India
| | - Vaqar Gani Tantray
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, India
| | - Altaf Rehman Kirmani
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, India
| | - Abdul Ghani Ahangar
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Significant inhibition of Tembusu virus envelope and NS5 gene using an adenovirus-mediated short hairpin RNA delivery system. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 54:387-396. [PMID: 28780191 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tembusu virus (TMUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, which was first isolated in the tropics during the 1970s. Recently, a disease characterized by ovarian haemorrhage and neurological symptoms was observed in ducks in China, which threatens poultry production. However, there is no suitable vaccination strategy or effective antiviral drugs to combat TMUV infections. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a new anti-TMUV therapy. In this study, we report an efficient short hairpin RNA (shRNA) delivery strategy for the inhibition of TMUV production using an adenovirus vector system. Using specifically designed shRNAs based on the E and NS5 protein genes of TMUV, the vector-expressed viral genes, TMUV RNA replication and infectious virus production were downregulated at different levels in Vero cells, where the shRNA (NS52) was highly effective in inhibiting TMUV. Using the human adenovirus type 5 shRNA delivery system, the recombinant adenovirus (rAd-NS52) inhibited TMUV multiplication with high efficiency. Furthermore, the significant dose-dependent inhibition of viral RNA copies induced by rAd-NS52 was found in TMUV-infected cells, which could last for at least 96h post infection. Our results indicated that the adenovirus-mediated delivery of shRNAs could play an active role in future TMUV antiviral therapeutics.
Collapse
|
6
|
Fernández-Sanlés A, Ríos-Marco P, Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. Functional Information Stored in the Conserved Structural RNA Domains of Flavivirus Genomes. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:546. [PMID: 28421048 PMCID: PMC5376627 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Flavivirus comprises a large number of small, positive-sense single-stranded, RNA viruses able to replicate in the cytoplasm of certain arthropod and/or vertebrate host cells. The genus, which has some 70 member species, includes a number of emerging and re-emerging pathogens responsible for outbreaks of human disease around the world, such as the West Nile, dengue, Zika, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. Like other RNA viruses, flaviviruses have a compact RNA genome that efficiently stores all the information required for the completion of the infectious cycle. The efficiency of this storage system is attributable to supracoding elements, i.e., discrete, structural units with essential functions. This information storage system overlaps and complements the protein coding sequence and is highly conserved across the genus. It therefore offers interesting potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes our knowledge of the features of flavivirus genome functional RNA domains. It also provides a brief overview of the main achievements reported in the design of antiviral nucleic acid-based drugs targeting functional genomic RNA elements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alba Fernández-Sanlés
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC)Granada, Spain
| | - Pablo Ríos-Marco
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC)Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Romero-López
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC)Granada, Spain
| | - Alfredo Berzal-Herranz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC)Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Freitas FB, Frouco G, Martins C, Leitão A, Ferreira F. In vitro inhibition of African swine fever virus-topoisomerase II disrupts viral replication. Antiviral Res 2016; 134:34-41. [PMID: 27568922 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of a highly-contagious and fatal disease of domestic pigs, leading to serious socio-economic impact in affected countries. To date, neither a vaccine nor a selective anti-viral drug are available for prevention or treatment of African swine fever (ASF), emphasizing the need for more detailed studies at the role of ASFV proteins involved in viral DNA replication and transcription. Notably, ASFV encodes for a functional type II topoisomerase (ASFV-Topo II) and we recently showed that several fluoroquinolones (bacterial DNA topoisomerase inhibitors) fully abrogate ASFV replication in vitro. Here, we report that ASFV-Topo II gene is actively transcribed throughout infection, with transcripts being detected as early as 2 hpi and reaching a maximum peak concentration around 16 hpi, when viral DNA synthesis, transcription and translation are more active. siRNA knockdown experiments showed that ASFV-Topo II plays a critical role in viral DNA replication and gene expression, with transfected cells presenting lower viral transcripts (up to 89% decrease) and reduced cytopathic effect (-66%) when compared to the control group. Further, a significant decrease in the number of both infected cells (75.5%) and viral factories per cell and in virus yields (up to 99.7%, 2.5 log) was found only in cells transfected with siRNA targeting ASFV-Topo II. We also demonstrate that a short exposure to enrofloxacin during the late phase of infection (from 15 to 1 hpi) induces fragmentation of viral genomes, whereas no viral genomes were detected when enrofloxacin was added from the early phase of infection (from 2 to 16 hpi), suggesting that fluoroquinolones are ASFV-Topo II poisons. Altogether, our results demonstrate that ASFV-Topo II enzyme has an essential role during viral genome replication and transcription, emphasizing the idea that this enzyme can be a potential target for drug and vaccine development against ASF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando B Freitas
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Frouco
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Martins
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Leitão
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fernando Ferreira
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dridi M, Rosseel T, Orton R, Johnson P, Lecollinet S, Muylkens B, Lambrecht B, Van Borm S. Next-generation sequencing shows West Nile virus quasispecies diversification after a single passage in a carrion crow (Corvus corone) in vivo infection model. J Gen Virol 2015; 96:2999-3009. [PMID: 26297666 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) occurs as a population of genetic variants (quasispecies) infecting a single animal. Previous low-resolution viral genetic diversity estimates in sampled wild birds and mosquitoes, and in multiple-passage adaptation studies in vivo or in cell culture, suggest that WNV genetic diversification is mostly limited to the mosquito vector. This study investigated genetic diversification of WNV in avian hosts during a single passage using next-generation sequencing. Wild-captured carrion crows were subcutaneously infected using a clonal Middle-East WNV. Blood samples were collected 2 and 4 days post-infection. A reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR approach was used to amplify the WNV genome directly from serum samples prior to next-generation sequencing resulting in an average depth of at least 700 × in each sample. Appropriate controls were sequenced to discriminate biologically relevant low-frequency variants from experimentally introduced errors. The WNV populations in the wild crows showed significant diversification away from the inoculum virus quasispecies structure. By contrast, WNV populations in intracerebrally infected day-old chickens did not diversify from that of the inoculum. Where previous studies concluded that WNV genetic diversification is only experimentally demonstrated in its permissive insect vector species, we have experimentally shown significant diversification of WNV populations in a wild bird reservoir species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Dridi
- Operational Direction of Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Center (CODA-CERVA-VAR), 99 Groeselenberg, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| | - T Rosseel
- Operational Direction of Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Center (CODA-CERVA-VAR), 99 Groeselenberg, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| | - R Orton
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - P Johnson
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - S Lecollinet
- UMR1161 Virologie INRA, ANSES, ENVA, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses), 23 avenue du Général De Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - B Muylkens
- Integrated Veterinary Research Unit, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - B Lambrecht
- Operational Direction of Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Center (CODA-CERVA-VAR), 99 Groeselenberg, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Van Borm
- Operational Direction of Viral Diseases, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Center (CODA-CERVA-VAR), 99 Groeselenberg, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang J, Zhang BC, Sun L. P247 and p523: two in vivo-expressed megalocytivirus proteins that induce protective immunity and are essential to viral infection. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121282. [PMID: 25815484 PMCID: PMC4376877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Megalocytivirus is a DNA virus with a broad host range among teleost fish. Although the complete genome sequences of a number of megalocytivirus isolates have been reported, the functions of most of the genes of this virus are unknown. In this study, we selected two megalocytivirus immunogens, P247 and P523, which were expressed during host infection and, when in the form of DNA vaccines (pCN247 and pCN523 respectively), elicited strong protectivity against lethal megalocytivirus challenge in a turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) model. Compared to control fish, fish vaccinated with pCN247 and pCN523 exhibited drastically reduced viral loads in tissues and high levels of survival rates. Immune response analysis showed that pCN247 and pCN523 (i) induced production of specific serum antibodies, (ii) caused generation of cytotoxic immune cells and specific memory immune cells that responded to secondary antigen stimulation, and (iii) upregulated the expression of genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity. To examine the potential role of P247 and P523 in viral infection, the expression of P247 and P523 was knocked down by siRNA. Subsequent in vivo infection study showed that P247 and P523 knockdown significantly impaired viral replication. Furthermore, whole-genome transcriptome analysis revealed that P247 and P523 knockdown altered the expression profiles of 26 and 41 viral genes, respectively, putatively participating in diverse aspects of viral infection. Taken together, these results indicate that P247 and P523 induce protective immunity in teleost and play fundamental roles essential to viral replication. These observations provide the first evidence that suggests a likely link between the protectivity of viral immunogens and their biological significance in viral replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bao cun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Sun
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Canu N. Design and cloning of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) into a lentiviral silencing vector to study the function of selected proteins in neuronal apoptosis. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1254:115-128. [PMID: 25431061 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2152-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Double-stranded RNA -mediated interference (RNAi ) is a new simple and fast research tool for shutting down genes and characterizes function of their respective proteins. Many strategies for design and delivery of siRNA to target cells are available. Here, we describe the use of lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) RNA silencing to identify the involvement of d-serine racemase (SR )- an enzyme that syntheses d-serine to modulate glutamate- N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor- in regulating rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGN ) apoptosis. Apoptosis is induced by serum and KCl withdrawal and is detected with fluorometric caspase 3 assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Canu
- Department of System Medicine, University of "Tor Vergata" Rome, Via Montpellier 1, Rome, 00137, Italy,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shen T, Liu K, Miao D, Cao R, Zhou B, Chen P. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference against Japanese encephalitis virus infection in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 2014; 108:56-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
12
|
Shen T, Liu K, Miao D, Cao R, Chen P. Effective inhibition of Japanese encephalitis virus replication by shRNAs targeting various viral genes in vitro and in vivo. Virology 2014; 454-455:48-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
13
|
Diosa-Toro M, Urcuqui-Inchima S, Smit JM. Arthropod-borne flaviviruses and RNA interference: seeking new approaches for antiviral therapy. Adv Virus Res 2013; 85:91-111. [PMID: 23439025 PMCID: PMC7149629 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-408116-1.00004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are the most prevalent arthropod-borne viruses worldwide, and nearly half of the 70 Flavivirus members identified are human pathogens. Despite the huge clinical impact of flaviviruses, there is no specific human antiviral therapy available to treat infection with any of the flaviviruses. Therefore, there is a continued search for novel therapies, and this review describes the current knowledge on the usage of RNA interference (RNAi) in combating flavivirus infections. RNAi is a process of sequence-specific gene silencing triggered by double-stranded RNA. Antiviral RNAi strategies against arthropod-borne flaviviruses have been reported and although several hurdles must be overcome to employ this technology in clinical applications, they potentially represent a new therapeutic tool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Diosa-Toro
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Virology Section, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Indenbaum V, Bin H, Makarovsky D, Weil M, Shulman L, Albeck M, Sredni B, Mendelson E. In vitro and in vivo activity of AS101 against West Nile virus (WNV). Virus Res 2012; 166:68-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Revised: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
15
|
Shah PS, Schaffer DV. Antiviral RNAi: translating science towards therapeutic success. Pharm Res 2011; 28:2966-82. [PMID: 21826573 PMCID: PMC5012899 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-011-0549-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Viruses continuously evolve to contend with an ever-changing environment that involves transmission between hosts and sometimes species, immune responses, and in some cases therapeutic interventions. Given the high mutation rate of viruses relative to the timescales of host evolution and drug development, novel drug classes that are readily screened and translated to the clinic are needed. RNA interference (RNAi)—a natural mechanism for specific degradation of target RNAs that is conserved from plants to invertebrates and vertebrates—can potentially be harnessed to yield therapies with extensive specificity, ease of design, and broad application. In this review, we discuss basic mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of RNAi, including design considerations and areas for future development in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priya S Shah
- Department of Chemical and Biolmolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Inhibition of dengue virus infections in cell cultures and in AG129 mice by a small interfering RNA targeting a highly conserved sequence. J Virol 2011; 85:10154-66. [PMID: 21795337 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.05298-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The dengue viruses (DENVs) exist as numerous genetic strains that are grouped into four antigenically distinct serotypes. DENV strains from each serotype can cause severe disease and threaten public health in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. No licensed antiviral agent to treat DENV infections is currently available, and there is an acute need for the development of novel therapeutics. We found that a synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) (DC-3) targeting the highly conserved 5' cyclization sequence (5'CS) region of the DENV genome reduced, by more than 100-fold, the titers of representative strains from each DENV serotype in vitro. To determine if DC-3 siRNA could inhibit DENV in vivo, an "in vivo-ready" version of DC-3 was synthesized and tested against DENV-2 by using a mouse model of antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE)-induced disease. Compared with the rapid weight loss and 5-day average survival time of the control groups, mice receiving the DC-3 siRNA had an average survival time of 15 days and showed little weight loss for approximately 12 days. DC-3-treated mice also contained significantly less virus than control groups in several tissues at various time points postinfection. These results suggest that exogenously introduced siRNA combined with the endogenous RNA interference processing machinery has the capacity to prevent severe dengue disease. Overall, the data indicate that DC-3 siRNA represents a useful research reagent and has potential as a novel approach to therapeutic intervention against the genetically diverse dengue viruses.
Collapse
|
17
|
Diamond MS. Progress on the development of therapeutics against West Nile virus. Antiviral Res 2009; 83:214-27. [PMID: 19501622 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2009] [Accepted: 05/27/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A decade has passed since the appearance of West Nile virus (WNV) in humans in the Western Hemisphere in New York City. During this interval, WNV spread inexorably throughout North and South America and caused millions of infections ranging from a sub-clinical illness, to a self-limiting febrile syndrome or lethal neuroinvasive disease. Its entry into the United States triggered intensive research into the basic biology of WNV and the elements that comprise a protective host immune response. Although no therapy is currently approved for use in humans, several strategies are being pursued to develop effective prophylaxis and treatments. This review describes the current state of knowledge on epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and immunobiology of WNV infection, and highlights progress toward an effective therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Diamond
- Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| |
Collapse
|