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RNA interference inhibits yellow fever virus replication in vitro and in vivo

Virus Genes volume 38, pages 224–231 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process that is induced by double stranded RNA and involves the degradation of specific sequences of mRNA in the cytoplasm of the eukaryotic cells. It has been used as an antiviral tool against many viruses, including flaviviruses. The genus Flavivirus contains the most important arboviruses in the world, i.e., dengue (DENV) and yellow fever (YFV). In our study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effect of RNAi against YFV. Using stable cell lines that expressed RNAi against YFV, the cell lines were able to inhibit as much as 97% of the viral replication. Two constructions (one against NS1 and the other against E region of YFV genome) were able to protect the adult Balb/c mice against YFV challenge. The histopathologic analysis demonstrated an important protection of the central nervous system by RNAi after 10 days of viral challenge. Our data suggests that RNAi is a potential viable therapeutic weapon against yellow fever.

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  1. Ministry of Health, Brazil. Http: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/febreamarela/.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a FAPESP grant to MLN (04/11098-2). CCP, RVMB and AAS were recipients of FAPESP fellowships (05/03334-0, 05/03260-7, and 06/02506-5, respectively). PR was a recipient of a CNPq fellowship and AM is a recipient of a CAPES scholarship. We thank Charles Rice (Rockefeller University) and Claudio Bonjardim (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) for the reagents. We also thank J. R. Santos (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil) for IFN titration.

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Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Pesquisas em Virologia, Departamento de Doenças Dermatológicas, Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto–FAMERP, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil

    Carolina C. Pacca, Adriana A. Severino, Adriano Mondini, Roberta V. M. Bronzoni & Maurício L. Nogueira

  2. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus São José do Rio Preto–IBILCE/UNESP, 15054-000, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Carolina C. Pacca, Adriana A. Severino & Paula Rahal

  3. Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto–FAMERP, 15090-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Solange G. P. D’avila

  4. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto–FAMERP, 15090-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    José Antonio Cordeiro

  5. Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Doenças Dermatológicas, Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto–FAMERP, 15090-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Mara Correa Lelles Nogueira

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  1. Carolina C. Pacca
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  2. Adriana A. Severino
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  9. Maurício L. Nogueira
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Correspondence to Maurício L. Nogueira.

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Pacca, C.C., Severino, A.A., Mondini, A. et al. RNA interference inhibits yellow fever virus replication in vitro and in vivo. Virus Genes 38, 224–231 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-009-0328-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-009-0328-3

Keywords

  • RNAi
  • Yellow fever
  • Flaviviridae
  • Arboviruses