Accepted_test

Searching for conservative targets for siRNA-therapeutics in human rotavirus type A genome

by Andrei Makashov | Alexandra Brodskaya | Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University | Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

Abstract ID: 596

Event: BGRS-abstracts

Sections: [Sym 9] Section “Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics”

Developing effective vaccines and treatment for viruses of various strains and subtypes relies on search of the conserved regions of viral genes and proteins. Our project investigated four rotavirus genes: VP4, VP7, NSP1, and NSP4 as potential targets for RNA interference as an antiviral therapy. Finding conserved gene regions for RNA interference could be a universal solution to counteract multiple virus serotypes. The first two genes encode the main rotavirus surface antigens, which play a key role in the interaction of the virus with the infected cell. The other two genes, NSP1 and NSP4, encode nonstructural rotavirus proteins involved in the interaction of the virus and immune system, and are critical for self-assembly of new virions as well. We perform the phylogenetic analysis for these genes and study nucleotide composition. We also performed a comprehensive analysis searching for conserved regions of 20 to 25 nucleotides each with optimal GC composition and certain nucleotide patterns in order to satisfy the rules of selection of effective inhibitory miRNAs