Silencing Sexually Transmitted Infections: Topical siRNA-Based Interventions for the Prevention of HIV and HSV

Figure 2

siRNAs directed against either conserved HIV-1 sequences or essential host factors (EHFs) could impair HIV-1 replication at various points in the viral life cycle.Although the incoming viral RNA is protected from siRNA-mediated degradation by its association with the preintegration complex (PIC) [119], it is possible to interfere with EHFs required for viral entry or integration by targeting its receptor CD4, its coreceptor, or factors required for entry into the nucleus such as transportin-3. Targeting conserved HIV-1 sequences can also inhibit progeny virus formation by cleaving HIV-1 transcripts such as gag and pol, expressed by the integrated proviral DNA. Figure is adapted from [105].