title: Silencing viruses by RNA interference.
abstract: Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) makes possible new approaches for studying the various steps of the viral cycle. Plus-strand RNA viruses appear to be attractive targets for small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), as their genome functions as both mRNA and replication template. PTGS creates an alternative to classic reverse genetics for viruses with either negative-strand or double-stranded RNA genomes and for those with a large genome. PTGS allows modification of the expression of a given cellular gene as a means to elucidate its role in the viral cycle and in virus-host cell interactions, and to investigate cellular pathways involved in viral pathogenesis. It also allows the creation of new animal models of human diseases. In addition, PTGS already appears to be a promising new therapeutic tool to fight viral multiplication and dissemination through the host and to prevent inflammation and virus-induced pathogenesis, including virus-induced tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Virus Entérotropes et Stratégies Antivirales, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris cedex 15, France. fcolbere@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colbère-Garapin
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blondel
authors.forename: Aure
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saulnier
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Labadie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering