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Home / Equine Research Bank / Virus Res / The effect of siRNA treatment on experimental equine herpesv...
Virus research2009; 147(2); 176-181; doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2009.10.017

The effect of siRNA treatment on experimental equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses.

Abstract: Available vaccines fail to induce lasting and protective immunity to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) associated diseases. RNA interference is a novel approach showing promise for therapeutic use in outbreak situations. This study examined the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) on clinical signs as well as the presence of live virus and viral DNA in nasal secretions and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in horses experimentally infected with EHV-1. siRNA targeting two EHV-1 genes (glycoprotein B and the origin binding protein) was administered 12h before and 12h after intranasal infection with EHV-1. Control horses received siRNA targeting firefly luciferase. A significantly smaller proportion (0/10) of horses receiving siRNA targeting viral genes required euthanasia due to intractable neurologic disease as compared to horses in the control group (3/4; p=0.01). There was no significant difference in the presence of live virus or viral DNA in the nasal secretions or PBMCs between the two groups. Future studies are necessary to define the relative contributions of host and virus factors in the development of the neurological form of the infection and to determine an optimal dosing regimen for metaphylactic or therapeutic use of siRNA for treating EHV-1 infection.
(c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2009-11-05 PubMed ID: 19896512PubMed Central: PMC7114471DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2009.10.017Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) on horses infected with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). The results indicate that siRNA, specifically targeting two EHV-1 genes, could potentially decrease the severity of symptoms in infected horses.

Research Context

  • This research is conducted in the backdrop of the failure of existing vaccines to provide long-lasting and protective immunity against EHV-1 related diseases in horses.
  • Given the current limitations, the research explores RNA interference as a potential therapeutic approach, as it has previously shown promise in the control of disease outbreaks.

Research Methodology

  • The research involved the experimental infection of horses with EHV-1 to study the impact of siRNA treatment.
  • The siRNA used specifically targeted two EHV-1 genes, glycoprotein B and the origin-binding protein, and was administered to the test horses 12 hours before and 12 hours after the intranasal infection.
  • Control horses were given siRNA that targeted firefly luciferase, which is unrelated to EHV-1, to provide a baseline for comparison.

Research Findings

  • The study found that a notably smaller proportion of the horses receiving siRNA targeting the EHV-1 viral genes needed euthanasia due to severe neurological disease compared to the control group horses.
  • Although the impact on the severity of symptoms was evident, the research noted no significant difference in the presence of the live EHV-1 virus or its DNA in the nasal secretions or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between the treated and control group.

Implications and Future Direction

  • These findings suggest that siRNA treatment can be potentially used for treating EHV-1 infection in horses in the future.
  • However, there is a need for further studies to elucidate the interaction of host and virus factors in the development of the neurological form of EHV-1 infection, as well as the determination of an optimal dosage regimen for prophylactic or therapeutic use of siRNA.

Cite This Article

APA
Brosnahan MM, Damiani A, van de Walle G, Erb H, Perkins GA, Osterrieder N. (2009). The effect of siRNA treatment on experimental equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses. Virus Res, 147(2), 176-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2009.10.017

Publication

Virus research
ISSN: 1872-7492
NlmUniqueID: 8410979
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 147
Issue: 2
Pages: 176-181

Researcher Affiliations

Brosnahan, Margaret M
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Damiani, Armando
    van de Walle, Gerlinde
      Erb, Hollis
        Perkins, Gillian A
          Osterrieder, Nikolaus

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
            • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
            • Blood / virology
            • Bodily Secretions / virology
            • DNA, Viral / genetics
            • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
            • Female
            • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy
            • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
            • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
            • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
            • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
            • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
            • Horse Diseases / pathology
            • Horse Diseases / virology
            • Horses
            • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
            • Male
            • Nose / virology
            • Pregnancy
            • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
            • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
            • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use
            • Survival Analysis
            • Time Factors

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 1 times.
            1. Schnabel CL, Wimer CL, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Watts C, Rollins A, Osterrieder N, Wagner B. Deletion of the ORF2 gene of the neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 strain Ab4 reduces virulence while maintaining strong immunogenicity.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Aug 22;14(1):245.
              doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1563-4pubmed: 30134896google scholar: lookup
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