RNA Interference Approach Is a Good Strategy against SARS-CoV-2

Ying-Ray Lee; Huey-Pin Tsai; Chun-Sheng Yeh; Chiung-Yao Fang; Michael W Y Chan; Tzu-Yun Wu; Cheng-Huang Shen

doi:10.3390/v15010100

RNA Interference Approach Is a Good Strategy against SARS-CoV-2

Viruses. 2022 Dec 29;15(1):100. doi: 10.3390/v15010100.

Authors

Ying-Ray Lee^{1

2

3

4}, Huey-Pin Tsai^{5

6}, Chun-Sheng Yeh⁶, Chiung-Yao Fang⁷, Michael W Y Chan⁸, Tzu-Yun Wu⁷, Cheng-Huang Shen⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
² Master of Science Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
³ Faculty of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
⁴ Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Medical Research, Ditmanson Medical Foundation, Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 600, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi 621, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Urology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 600, Taiwan.

Abstract

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, created a devastating outbreak worldwide and consequently became a global health concern. However, no verifiable, specifically targeted treatment has been devised for COVID-19. Several emerging vaccines have been used, but protection has not been satisfactory. The complex genetic composition and high mutation frequency of SARS-CoV-2 have caused an uncertain vaccine response. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy is an efficient strategy to control various infectious diseases employing post-transcriptional gene silencing through the silencing of target complementary mRNA. Here, we designed two highly effective shRNAs targeting the conserved region of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) and spike proteins capable of significant SARS-CoV-2 replication suppression. The efficacy of this approach suggested that the rapid development of an shRNA-based therapeutic strategy might prove to be highly effective in treating COVID-19. However, it needs further clinical trials.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antiviral strategy; shRNA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / therapy
Humans
RNA Interference*
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
SARS-CoV-2* / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Small Interfering
RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10906006), Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU-Q111008), Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, and College of Medicine of National Cheng Kung University (CYC110011).