Designing as an antiviral approach against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV)

Background and Aim : Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most widespread tickborne viral infection worldwide: it has been reported in many regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The geographical distribution of CCHFV corresponds most closely with the distribution of members of the tick genera, and Hyalomma ticks are the principal source of human infection. In contrast to human infection, CCHFV infection is asymptomatic in all species. In recent years, gene therapy has become a powerful strategy against viruses. Therefore, in the present study, the possibility of using and designing shRNA against West Nile virus was investigated.Methods : Oligonucleotides encoded shRNA molecules were designed against nucleocapsid gene of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus using the www.invivogen.com/sirna-wizard site and the most effective molecules were selected using background information. For this purpose, standard search method selected and siRNA motifs with the desired size and thermodynamic properties were designed. Then, in order to design hairpin, the proposed vector and loop sequences submitted, so the most effective shRNAs with desired restriction enzyme sites were designed.Results : Three potentially effective shRNA molecules were designed. Their start target positions included the respectively start positions of ۴۶, ۱۴۴ and ۱۵۷ of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleocapsid (N) gene.Conclusion : The results showed that there are potentially effective shRNA molecules against nucleocapcid (N) gene of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus that can suppress its replication.

کلیدواژه ها:

shRNA ، Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus ، nucleocapsid (N) ، gene therapy.