Postexposure Protection of Guinea Pigs against a Lethal Ebola Virus Challenge is Conferred by RNA Interference

Abstract

Background. Ebola virus (EBOV) infection causes a frequently fatal hemorrhagic fever (HF) that is refractory to treatment with currently available antiviral therapeutics. RNA interference represents a powerful, naturally occurring biological strategy for the inhibition of gene expression and has demonstrated utility in the inhibition of viral replication. Here, we describe the development of a potential therapy for EBOV infection that is based on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Methods. Four siRNAs targeting the polymerase (L) gene of the Zaire species of EBOV (ZEBOV) were either complexed with polyethylenimine (PEI) or formulated in stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALPs). Guinea pigs were treated with these siRNAs either before or after lethal ZEBOV challenge. Results. Treatment of guinea pigs with a pool of the L gene-specific siRNAs delivered by PEI polyplexes reduced plasma viremia levels and partially protected the animals from death when administered shortly before the ZEBOV challenge. Evaluation of the same pool of siRNAs delivered using SNALPs proved that this system was more efficacious, as it completely protected guinea pigs against viremia and death when administered shortly after the ZEBOV challenge. Additional experiments showed that 1 of the 4 siRNAs alone could completely protect guinea pigs from a lethal ZEBOV challenge. Conclusions. Further development of this technology has the potential to yield effective treatments for EBOV HF as well as for diseases caused by other agents that are considered to be biological threats.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 15, 2006
Accession Number
ADA467854

Entities

People

  • Elizabeth A. Fritz
  • Elliott Kagan
  • Erik Z. Yu
  • Janet R. Phelps
  • Joan B. Geisbert
  • Kathleen Daddario-dicaprio
  • Kevin Mcclintock
  • Lisa Hensley
  • Peter B. Jahrling
  • Thomas W Geisbert

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Animals
  • Chemistry
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Ebola Virus
  • Hepatitis
  • Infection
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Particles
  • Proteins
  • Rna Viruses
  • Rodents
  • Therapy
  • Virus Diseases
  • Viruses
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech