Identification and mapping of a region on the mRNA of Morbillivirus nucleoprotein susceptible to RNA interference.
The morbillivirus genus includes important pathogens such as measles virus (MV), peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), and rinderpest virus (RPV) and forms a group of antigenically related viruses. The viral nucleoprotein (N) is a well-conserved protein among the genus and plays a central role in the replication of the virus. Using a comprehensive approach for siRNA screening of the conserved sequences of the N gene, including sequence analysis and functional in vitro tests, we have identified a region for the design of siRNA effective for the control of PPRV, RPV, and MV replication. Silencing of the N mRNA efficiently shuts down the production of N transcripts, the expression of N protein, and the indirect inhibition of matrix protein, resulting in the inhibition of PPRV progeny by 10,000-fold. These results suggest that siRNA against this region should be further explored as a therapeutic strategy for morbillivirus infections.
Keita
Djénéba
D
CIRAD, Département Systèmes Biologiques, UPR 15 Contrôle des Maladies Animales Emergentes et Exotiques, TA A-15/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Servan de Almeida
Renata
R
Libeau
Geneviève
G
Albina
Emmanuel
E
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018103:Morbillivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018185:Morbillivirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology*; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication
D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering