International journal of molecular medicine
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RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by double- stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a novel mechanism of sequence-specific, post-transcriptional gene silencing. There has been much research into the use of RNAi for the treatment of human diseases. Many viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), are susceptible to inhibition by this mechanism. ⋯ Collectively, the PCR-based siRNA expression strategy provides a rapid and easy approach for testing candidate anti-HBV siRNA sequences and for cloning selected siRNA expression cassettes into a vector. RNAi based on the HFV vector was able to achieve effective, long-term inhibition of HBV gene expression and viral DNA replication. The combination of the two techniques may provide a powerful tool in the treatment of viral infection.