HIV-Encoded siRNA, microRNA and Suppressor of RNA Silencing
Description of Invention:
The present invention relates to virus-encoded siRNA and miRNA species and the use of such RNAs in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of retroviral infection, especially HIV or SIV infection. This invention conveys the first evidence that HIV-1 encodes viral siRNA precursors in its genome and that natural HIV-1 infection provokes nucleic acid-based immunity in human cells. To overcome this cellular defense, the HIV-1 Tat protein has evolved to include a suppressor of RNA silencing (SRS) function. Additionally, this invention identifies five microRNA (miRNA) precursor candidates that regulate cellular gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. The five miRNA precursors (21-25 nucleotides in length) are encoded in highly conserved regions of HIV such as TAR sequence, gag, pol and nef genes. These findings indicate that viruses utilize RNA interference as a mechanism to regulate cellular gene expression.
Inventors:
Yamina Bennasser et al. (NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-203-2005/0
Relevant Publication:
This technology is further described in:
Bennasser et al., "HIV-1 encoded candidate micro-RNAs and their cellular
targets," Retrovirology 2004 Dec 15, 1(1):43, doi:10.1186/1742-4690-1-43.
Bennasser et al., "Evidence that HIV-1 encodes an siRNA and a suppressor
of RNA silencing," Immunity 2005 May, 22(5):607-619, doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2005.03.010.
Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
