title: Cholesterol paves the way for topically applied viricides.
abstract: Sexually transmitted viral infections have the potential to be prevented and treated by topical viricides. Here, Wu et al. (2009) demonstrate that cholesterol-conjugated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting a cellular receptor combined with an antiviral siRNA when topically applied to mucosal tissue blocked lethal herpes virus infections in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. jrossi@coh.org
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D002784:Cholesterol