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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Screening and Identification of RNA Silencing Suppressors from Secreted Effectors of Plant Pathogens
Published on: February 3, 2020
RNA silencing: a conserved antiviral immunity of plants and animals
Shou-Wei Ding1, Hongwei Li, Rui Lu
1Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Plant Pathology, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. shou-wei.ding@ucr.edu
Abstract:
RNA silencing is a novel RNA-guided gene regulatory mechanism operational in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms from fission yeast, plants, to mammals. This article reviews the recent progress on aspects of RNA silencing that are related to its biological function as a conserved antiviral immunity of plants and animals, and highlights features of this novel antiviral response in invertebrate animals as compared to the known innate and adaptive immunities. Finally, we discuss evidence that suggests a natural antiviral role for RNA silencing in vertebrates as well as experimental approaches that may facilitate the identification of first mammalian viral suppressors of RNA silencing.
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