siRNA intervention inhibiting viral replication and delivery strategies for treating herpes simplex viral infection

Abstract

The effective treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections generally involves the use of antiviral nucleoside drugs, but with increasing reports of antiviral resistance, the use of these drugs is challenged. Hence, a need arises to explore alternate treatment options. In this review we have discussed various targets that have been explored to control the HSV replication using siRNA therapeutics. We have also discussed the advantages of targeting a less explored UL10 gene to develop an alternate therapeutic intervention. Gene silencing can induce an inhibitory activity to virus spread and infection. The capacity and suitability of UL10 gene as siRNA induced silencing target in eliciting the desired antiviral effect in patients is identified and particularly discussed. The major challenge associated with the siRNA therapeutics is their delivery. The various viable delivery options, that are being explored in the recent times is summarized and different delivery pathways and strategies are reviewed as a part of the study.

Cyclo-RGD Truncated Polymeric Nanoconstruct with Dendrimeric Templates for Targeted HDAC4 Gene Silencing in a Diabetic Nephropathy Mouse Model

“…Liposomes represent successful delivery systems that have already made their way to the market as lipid-based siRNA delivery vectors siRNA viz. such as Lipofectamine, Oligofectamine, RNAifect, etc. have been applied for the delivery of siRNA.…”

Cell Penetrating Peptides Used in Delivery of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides Targeting Hepatitis B Virus

“…Currently, the biological activities of CPPs have been reported including antiviral activities [ 48 ]. Moreover, the antiviral activity of CPPs has been more studied for enveloped viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Indeed, few or no studies which investigated the ability of CPPs to inhibit HBV replication are available.…”

Liposomal siRNA Formulations for the Treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus-1: In Vitro Characterization of Physicochemical Properties and Activity, and In Vivo Biodistribution and Toxicity Studies

“…siRNA therapeutics have been applied most notably in different types of cancer [19][20][21] and genetic disorders [22], and in viral infections [23]. Several studies demonstrate the therapeutic potential of siRNA for inhibiting HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection in vitro [23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

“…siRNA therapeutics have been applied most notably in different types of cancer [ 19 , 20 , 21 ] and genetic disorders [ 22 ], and in viral infections [ 23 ]. Several studies demonstrate the therapeutic potential of siRNA for inhibiting HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection in vitro [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. A therapeutic effect has been demonstrated in rodents following local intravaginal application of siRNAs complexed with a transfection agent [ 30 , 31 ], and by a topical administration of siRNA solution in a corneal infection model [ 32 ].…”