Lentivirus expressing shRNAs inhibit the replication of contagious ecthyma virus by targeting DNA polymerase gene

Abstract

Background: Contagious ecthyma or Orf is known as a zoonotic disease remains prevalently worldwide despite the application of some control strategies against it. RNAi particularly shRNA provides us with the chance to tackle this obstacle by an encouraging new approach. The current study indicates the design and experiment of thirdgeneration lentivirus packaging systems delivering shRNAs to inhibit Orf virus (ORFV) replication and infection. Given the importance of DNA-pol gene in virus replication, in this study, three shRNAs against this gene were designed and cloned into lentiviral vectors to stabilize the expression of shRNAs. After producing lentivectors expressing ORFV-DNA-pol in HEK293T cells, the synthesized shRNAs were applied to downregulate viral replication and gene expression. The reduction in viral titer and RNA was evaluated by TCID50 test as well as real-time RT-PCR. The results were then analyzed in comparison with the control group. Results: Designed shRNAs significantly reduced virus yield approximately 90 to 97% and 96.8 to 99.4%, respectively compared to the control groups (cells infected with ORFV and infected with ORFV and scrambled vector) by TCID50 test. Real-time RT-PCR revealed a dramatic reduction in the expression of viral RNA approximately 99% compared to cells infected with ORFV and from 92.6 to 99%, respectively compared to cells infected with ORFV and scrambled vector. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be stated that RNAi is capable of being used as a potent therapeutically option against viruses like ORFV.

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“…Given the reasons mentioned above, lentiviral vectors were used to express the target genes in the desired cells and the first step for the preparation of these vectors is the cloning of the desired gene in the transfer vector in lentiviral packaging systems (16,17).…”

Cloning of a BDV-NS3 Conserved Fragment for the Preparation of a Reporter Cell Line

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A signal recognition particle receptor gene from the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas

“…RNAi can be induced in organicism using siRNAs, dsRNAs and shRNAs [35][36][37] . Using lentiviral to deliver shRNA to induce RNAi expression or for delivery Cas9 and gRNA to achieve genome editing has been widely used in vertebrates, especially in mamanis 26,[38][39][40] . Generally, lentiviral vectors do not elicit any effective cellular immune response from the host 41 , and transgene expression mediated by lentiviral vectors can persist for several months 42 .…”