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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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Yuan L, Feng X, Gao X, Luo Y, Liu C, Liu P, Yang G, Ren H, Huang R, Feng Y, Yang J. Effective inhibition of different Japanese encephalitis virus genotypes by RNA interference targeting two conserved viral gene sequences in vitro and in vivo. Virus Genes 2018; 54:746-755. [PMID: 30229544 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-018-1602-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis is a zoonotic, mosquito-borne, infectious disease caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is prevalent in China. At present, there are no specific drugs or therapies for JEV infection, which can only be treated symptomatically. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly efficient method to silence target genes. In this study, two lentiviral shRNA, LV-C and LV-NS5, targeting the conserved viral gene sequences were used to inhibit different JEV genotypes strains in BHK21 cells and mice. The results showed that LV-C significantly inhibited JEV genotype I and genotype III strains in cells and mice. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that JEV mRNA were reduced by 83.2-90.9% in cells by LV-C and that flow cytometry analysis confirmed the inhibitory activity of LV-C. The viral titers were reduced by about 1000-fold in cells and the brains of suckling mice by LV-C, and the pretreatment of LV-C protected 60-80% of mice against JEV-induced lethality. The inhibitory activities of LV-NS5 in cells and mice were weaker than those of LV-C. These results indicate that RNAi targeting of the two conserved viral gene sequences had significantly suppressed the replication of different JEV genotypes strains in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the feasibility of RNAi targeting of conserved viral gene sequences for controlling JEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yuan
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Xiaojuan Feng
- Medical Functional Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Xuelian Gao
- Department of Medical Imaging, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Chaoyue Liu
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Guolin Yang
- Laboratory Animal Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Hong Ren
- Laboratory Animal Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Yalan Feng
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Pathogen and Immunology Experiment Teaching Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637100, China.
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Abstract
The persistence of West Nile virus (WNV) infections throughout the USA since its inception in 1999 and its continuous spread throughout the globe calls for an urgent need of effective treatments and prevention measures. Although the licensing of several WNV vaccines for veterinary use provides a proof of concept, similar efforts on the development of an effective vaccine for humans remain still unsuccessful. Increased understanding of biology and pathogenesis of WNV together with recent technological advancements have raised hope that an effective WNV vaccine may be available in the near future. In addition, rapid progress in the structural and functional characterization of WNV and other flaviviral proteins have provided a solid base for the design and development of several classes of inhibitors as potential WNV therapeutics. Moreover, the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies demonstrate an excellent efficacy against WNV in animal models and represent a promising class of WNV therapeutics. However, there are some challenges as to the design and development of a safe and efficient WNV vaccine or therapeutic. In this chapter, we discuss the current approaches, progress, and challenges toward the development of WNV vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, and antiviral drugs.
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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Meshram CD, Singh NK, Sonwane AA, Pawar SS, Mishra BP, Chaturvedi VK, Saini M, Singh RP, Gupta PK. Evaluation of single and dual siRNAs targeting rabies virus glycoprotein and nucleoprotein genes for inhibition of virus multiplication in vitro. Arch Virol 2013; 158:2323-32. [PMID: 23754741 PMCID: PMC7086810 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-013-1738-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting rabies virus (RV) glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) genes were evaluated as antiviral agents against rabies virus in vitro in BHK-21 cells. To select effective siRNAs targeting RV-G, a plasmid-based transient co-transfection approach was used. In this, siRNAs were expressed as short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), and their ability to inhibit RV-G gene expression was evaluated in cells transfected with a plasmid expressing RV-G. The nine different siRNAs designed to target RV-G exhibited varying degrees of knockdown of RV-G gene expression. One siRNA (si-G7) with considerable effect in knockdown of RV-G expression also demonstrated significant inhibition of RV multiplication in BHK-21 cells after in vitro challenge with the RV Pasteur virus-11 (PV-11) strain. A decrease in the number of fluorescent foci in siRNA-treated cells and a reduction (86.8 %) in the release of RV into infected cell culture supernatant indicated the anti-rabies potential of siRNA. Similarly, treatment with one siRNA targeting RV-N resulted in a decrease in the number of fluorescent foci and a reduction (85.9 %) in the release of RV. As a dual gene silencing approach where siRNAs targeting RV-G and RV-N genes were expressed from single construct, the anti-rabies-virus effect was observed as an 87.4 % reduction in the release of RV. These results demonstrate that siRNAs targeting RV-G and N, both in single and dual form, have potential as antiviral agent against rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetan D. Meshram
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - Niraj K. Singh
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - Arvind A. Sonwane
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - Sachin S. Pawar
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - B. P. Mishra
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - V. K. Chaturvedi
- Division of Biological Products, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - Mohini Saini
- Centre for Wildlife, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - R. P. Singh
- Division of Biological Products, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
| | - Praveen K. Gupta
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243 122 India
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Lam S, Chen KC, Ng MM, Chu JJ. Expression of plasmid-based shRNA against the E1 and nsP1 genes effectively silenced Chikungunya virus replication. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46396. [PMID: 23056297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging alphavirus that causes chikungunya fever and persistent arthralgia in humans. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or antiviral against CHIKV infection. Therefore, this study evaluates whether RNA interference which targets at viral genomic level may be a novel antiviral strategy to inhibit the medically important CHIKV infection. Methods Plasmid-based small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was investigated for its efficacy in inhibiting CHIKV replication. Three shRNAs designed against CHIKV Capsid, E1 and nsP1 genes were transfected to establish stable shRNA-expressing cell clones. Following infection of stable shRNA cells clones with CHIKV at M.O.I. 1, viral plaque assay, Western blotting and transmission electron microscopy were performed. The in vivo efficacy of shRNA against CHIKV replication was also evaluated in a suckling murine model of CHIKV infection. Results Cell clones expressing shRNAs against CHIKV E1 and nsP1 genes displayed significant inhibition of infectious CHIKV production, while shRNA Capsid demonstrated a modest inhibitory effect as compared to scrambled shRNA cell clones and non-transfected cell controls. Western blot analysis of CHIKV E2 protein expression and transmission electron microscopy of shRNA E1 and nsP1 cell clones collectively demonstrated similar inhibitory trends against CHIKV replication. shRNA E1 showed non cell-type specific anti-CHIKV effects and broad-spectrum silencing against different geographical strains of CHIKV. Furthermore, shRNA E1 clones did not exert any inhibition against Dengue virus and Sindbis virus replication, thus indicating the high specificity of shRNA against CHIKV replication. Moreover, no shRNA-resistant CHIKV mutant was generated after 50 passages of CHIKV in the stable cell clones. More importantly, strong and sustained anti-CHIKV protection was conferred in suckling mice pre-treated with shRNA E1. Conclusion Taken together, these data suggest the promising efficacy of anti-CHIKV shRNAs, in particular, plasmid-shRNA E1, as a novel antiviral strategy against CHIKV infection.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The members of the family Flaviviridae, including West Nile virus, yellow fever virus and dengue virus, are important human pathogens that are expanding their impact around the globe. The four serotypes of dengue infect 50-100 million people each year, yet the only clinical treatment is supportive care to reduce symptoms. Drugs that employ novel inhibition mechanisms and targets are urgently needed to combat the growing incidence of dengue worldwide. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss recently discovered flavivirus inhibitors with a focus on antivirals targeting non-enzymatic proteins of the dengue virus lifecycle. Specifically, the authors discuss the flaviviruses, the need for novel inhibitors and the criteria for successful antiviral drug development. Current literature describing new advances in antiviral therapy at each stage of the flavivirus lifecycle (entry, endosomal escape, viral RNA processing and replication, assembly and immune evasion) are evaluated and summarized. EXPERT OPINION Overall, the prognosis of flavivirus antiviral drug development is positive: new effective compounds have been discovered and studied. However, repurposing existing compounds and a greater translation to the clinical setting are recommended in order to combat the growing threat of flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Botting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive
| | - Richard J. Kuhn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Gupta PK, Sonwane AA, Singh NK, Meshram CD, Dahiya SS, Pawar SS, Gupta SP, Chaturvedi VK, Saini M. Intracerebral delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) using adenoviral vector protects mice against lethal peripheral rabies challenge. Virus Res 2012; 163:11-8. [PMID: 21864591 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2011.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Revised: 08/08/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the potential of RNA interference (RNAi) as antiviral agent against rabies, two small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting rabies virus (RABV) nucleoprotein (N) and polymerase (L) genes were designed and evaluated. Both siRNAs knockdown or silenced the target RABV genes as evaluated in a plasmid based transient expression model. For efficient delivery, adenoviruses expressing the siRNAs were constructed and antiviral potential of the delivered siRNAs was investigated in BHK-21 cells. When cells treated with adenoviruses expressing siRNAs were challenged with RABV, there was 88.35±2.4% and 41.52±9.3% reduction in RABV multiplication in infected cells with siRNAs targeting RABV-N and L genes, respectively. Relative quantification of RABV transcripts using real-time PCR revealed knockdown of both RABV-N and L gene transcripts, however, significant reduction was observed only with adenovirus expressing siRNA against RABV-N. When mice treated intracerebrally with adenoviruses expressing siRNAs were challenged peripherally with lethal RABV by the intramuscular route in masseter muscle, there was 66.6% and 33.3% protection with adenoviruses expressing siRNAs against RABV-N and L genes, respectively. These results demonstrated that adenovirus expressing siRNA against RABV-N efficiently inhibited the RABV multiplication both, in vitro and in vivo and conferred significant protection against lethal RABV challenge. This supported the hypothesis that RNAi, based on siRNA targeting RABV-N gene can prevent RABV infection and holds the potential of RNAi as an approach to prevent rabies infection.
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Stein DA, Perry ST, Buck MD, Oehmen CS, Fischer MA, Poore E, Smith JL, Lancaster AM, Hirsch AJ, Slifka MK, Nelson JA, Shresta S, Früh K. 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [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.
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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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Diamond
- Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
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Anthony KG, Bai F, Krishnan MN, Fikrig E, Koski RA. Effective siRNA targeting of the 3' untranslated region of the West Nile virus genome. Antiviral Res 2009; 82:166-8. [PMID: 19135091 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2008.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2008] [Accepted: 12/07/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging human pathogen for which specific antiviral therapy has not been developed. The therapeutic potential of RNA interference (RNAi) as a sequence-specific inhibitor of WNV has been well demonstrated. Although multiple siRNA targets have been identified within the genomic coding region, targets within the untranslated regions (UTR), which encode cis-acting regulatory elements, remain relatively unknown. In WNV and other flaviviruses, UTRs are located at the genomic termini. These regions form complex secondary structures, which pose difficulty when designing effective siRNA targets. In this study, we report the identification of siRNA targets in the WNV 3' UTR. These targets were selected by siRNA predictor algorithms, and synthesized as short hairpin RNA sequences from a plasmid-based expression system. Vero cells stably expressing these sequences had greatly diminished ability to support WNV replication but not the related dengue virus, demonstrating that the siRNAs were effective and suppressed WNV viral replication in a sequence-specific manner. The siRNAs developed in this study could function as potential antiviral therapeutics and as genetic tools to investigate the role of 3' UTR in WNV pathogenesis.
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