RNA interference inhibits hepatitis E virus mRNA accumulation and protein synthesis in vitro.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen to which several species, including human beings, pigs and rodents, are reported to be susceptible. To date, vaccines developed against HEV still need to be improved and a structural gene (ORF2), which encodes a capsid protein with high sequence conservation found across HEV genotypes, is a potential candidate. To exploit the possibility of using RNA interference (RNAi) as a strategy against HEV infection, four small interference RNA (siRNA) duplex targeting ORF2 gene were constructed. A challenge against HEV infection by RNAi was performed in A549 cells. Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time qPCR) and Western blot assay demonstrated that four HEV specific siRNAs (si-ORF2-1, si-ORF2-2, si-ORF2-3 and si-ORF2-4) were capable of protecting cells against HEV infection with very high specificity and efficiency. The results suggest that RNAi is a potent anti-HEV infection prophylaxis strategy.
Huang
Fen
F
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.
Zhou
Junfang
J
Yang
Zhibiao
Z
Cui
Li
L
Zhang
Wen
W
Yuan
Congli
C
Yang
Shixing
S
Zhu
Jianguo
J
Hua
Xiuguo
X
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
C400971:ORF2 protein, Hepatitis E virus; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins