Abstract
Influenza is an important research subject around the world because of its threat to humanity. Influenza A virus (IAV) causes seasonal epidemics and sporadic, but dangerous pandemics. A rapid antigen changes and recombination of the viral RNA genome contribute to the reduced effectiveness of vaccination and anti-influenza drugs. Hence, there is a necessity to develop new antiviral drugs and strategies to limit the influenza spread. IAV is a single-stranded negative sense RNA virus with a genome (viral RNA—vRNA) consisting of eight segments. Segments within influenza virion are assembled into viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes that are independent transcription-replication units. Each step in the influenza life cycle is regulated by the RNA and is dependent on its interplay and dynamics. Therefore, viral RNA can be a proper target to design novel therapeutics. Here, we briefly described examples of anti-influenza strategies based on the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and catalytic nucleic acids. In particular we focused on the vRNA structure-function relationship as well as presented the advantages of using secondary structure information in predicting therapeutic targets and the potential future of this field.
Highlights
Influenza is a significant research subject for scientists around the world due to its serious threat to public health
Its genome consists of eight negative-sense viral RNA segments that encode for 11 proteins including glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), a nucleoprotein (NP), two matrix proteins (M1 and M2), three polymerase complex proteins: polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2)
Results showed that the small interfering RNA (siRNA) loaded into hybrid microcarriers more efficiently inhibited the replication in several influenza A virus (IAV) subtypes in comparison with single siRNA treatment
Summary
Influenza is a significant research subject for scientists around the world due to its serious threat to public health. Influenza A virus (IAV) is a human and animal pathogen causing seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The pandemic potential of influenza virus is a result of its high genome variability and is correlated with its pathogenicity, replication, growth kinetics as well as the viral life cycle including replication dynamics, RNA packaging, RNA editing and mRNA splicing. These processes can be controlled by the virus RNA structure [2]. Its genome consists of eight negative-sense viral RNA (vRNA) segments that encode for 11 proteins including glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), a nucleoprotein (NP), two matrix proteins (M1 and M2), three polymerase complex proteins: polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
