title: Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication by small interfering RNAs.
abstract: Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are the mediators of a sequence-specific process of gene silencing called RNA interference (RNAi). Here, we show that synthetic siRNAs against essential gene products of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can trigger RNAi in serum-starved, infected primary fibroblasts, as well as in U373 cells, leading to effective inhibition of viral DNA replication. This opens new possibilities for antiviral strategies and for the analysis of viral and cellular genes important to HCMV physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Charité, CCM-Ziegelstr. 5-9, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Lüder
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiebusch
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Charité, CCM-Ziegelstr. 5-9, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truss
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Charité, CCM-Ziegelstr. 5-9, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagemeier
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C109367:UL54 protein, Human herpesvirus 5; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase