Designing shRNA molecules targeting polymerase gene as a gene therapy tool against West Nile virus (WN)

Background and Aim : West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. 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 siRNA molecules were designed against RNA polymerase gene of West Nile virus using the www.invivogen.com/sirna-wizard online website 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 : Four potentially effective shRNA molecules were designed. Their start target positions included with respectively positions of ۴۳۱, ۴۶۵, ۵۲۵ and ۶۹۳ of West Nile virus RNA polymerase sequence. Conclusion : The results showed that there are potentially effective shRNA molecules against RNA polymerase gene of West Nile virus that can suppress its proliferation.

کلیدواژه ها:

shRNA ، West Nile virus ، RNA polymerase gene ، gene therapy.