The Use of siRNA against SARS Coronavirus
- Summary
- SARS coronavirus can cause acute severe respiratory syndrome in humans and some animal model systems such as monkeys. The mortality rate can reach as high as 50% in people older than 65 of age. Recent technology in creating small interferening RNA can be used to inhibit viral gene expression and thus decrease the severity of the infection. We have designed three siRNA against the Nucleocapsid gene of SARS coronavirus and in vitro experiments have shown that cells transfected with these siRNA has lower expression of SARS nucleocapsid mRNA and protein levels compared to cells mock transfected with vector only. Thus these siRNA and therapeutic agents derived from their sequences, could be potentially used as therapeutic agents for treating SARS coronavirus.
- Application No.
- 05/MED/215
- Others
- Inventor(s): Professor Mary M Y Waye, Department of Biochemistry
Patent Status: US Patent Pending
- Country/Region
- Hong Kong
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