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Updated: Jun 21, 2025

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
Complete substitution with modified nucleotides in self-amplifying RNA suppresses the interferon response and
Joshua E McGee1,2, Jack R Kirsch1, Devin Kenney3,4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract:
The use of modified nucleotides to suppress the interferon response and maintain translation of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), which has been achieved for mRNA, has not yet succeeded. We identify modified nucleotides that, when substituted at 100% in saRNA, confer innate immune evasion and robust long-term protein expression, and when formulated as a vaccine, protect against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice. This discovery advances saRNA therapeutics by enabling prolonged protein expression at low doses.
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