title: Developing an effective RNA interference strategy against a plus-strand RNA virus: silencing of coxsackievirus B3 and its cognate coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor.
abstract: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB-3) is a plus-strand RNA virus that is believed to be the most common causal agent of viral myocarditis. Since no specific treatment for CVB-3 infections is available to date, we and others have recently started to develop RNA interference (RNAi) approaches to prevent virus propagation. Here we describe our strategy for the development of efficient small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against viral genomes. Initially, fusion constructs of a reporter (green fluorescent protein) and viral subgenomic fragments were employed to select active siRNAs against the virus. Moreover, in an attempt to achieve sustained virus silencing and reduce the risk of generating escape mutants, only highly efficient siRNAs directed against regions of the viral genome that are unlikely to tolerate mutations were considered for virus inhibition. Two siRNAs directed against the 3D RNA-dependent RNA polymerase were found to inhibit virus propagation by 80-90%. The protective effect of the efficient siRNAs lasted for several days. Furthermore, we have first evidence that inhibition of the cellular coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) by RNAi also reduces the virus titre. Our strategy is likely to be applicable to other (RNA) viruses as well.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemistry (Biochemistry), Free University of Berlin, Thielallee 63, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Werk
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindig
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Grunert
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeichhardt
authors.forename: Volker A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurreck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C105941:coxsackievirus B receptor