Towards improved shRNA and miRNA reagents as inhibitors of HIV-1 replication
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy
Published on: September 5, 2016
1Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection & Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
miRNAs are the key players of the RNAi mechanism, which regulates the expression of a large number of mRNAs in human cells. shRNAs are man-made synthetic miRNA mimics that exploit similar intracellular RNA processing routes. Massive amounts of data derived from next-generation sequencing have revealed miRNA species that are derived from alternative biosynthesis pathways. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of these noncanonical routes of miRNA and shRNA biosynthesis. We focus on ways to use these novel insights for the design of more potent and specific RNAi reagents for therapeutic applications, including the AgoshRNA design, which is processed differently than regular shRNAs. We will also discuss the development of a durable gene therapy against HIV1.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
02:15Experimental RNAi
01:23RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...