RNAi therapeutics: an antiviral strategy for human infections.

Abstract

Gene silencing induced by RNAi represents a promising antiviral development strategy. This review will summarise the current state of RNAi therapeutics for treating acute and chronic human virus infections. The gene silencing pathways exploited by RNAi therapeutics will be described and include both classic RNAi, inducing cytoplasmic mRNA degradation post-transcription and novel RNAi, mediating epigenetic modifications at the transcription level in the nucleus. Finally, the challenge of delivering gene modifications via RNAi will be discussed, along with the unique characteristics of respiratory versus systemic administration routes to highlight recent advances and future potential of RNAi antiviral treatment strategies.

• Authors: Anthony D Kelleher, Christina Cortez-Jugo, Francesca Cavalieri, Yijiao Qu, Allan R Glanville, Frank Caruso, Geoff Symonds, Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
• Journal: Current opinion in pharmacology (Curr Opin Pharmacol) Vol. 54 Pg. 121-129 (10 2020) ISSN: 1471-4973 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33171339 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Animals
• Chronic Disease
• Humans
• RNA Interference
• RNAi Therapeutics
• Virus Diseases (therapy)