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Identified in humans just 5 years ago, RNA interference has the potential to create a whole new group of powerful and inexpensive treatments and should have minimal adverse effects (Journal Watch Dec 24 2004, Journal Watch Jan 28 2005, and Journal Watch Jul 5 2005).
A team from Harvard Medical School created small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that block expression of genes that are important in the replication of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). When complexed to lipids, the siRNAs were taken up rapidly by cells in culture and by vaginal mucosal cells of mice. When mice were treated with siRNAs both before and after experimental challenge with lethal amounts of HSV-2, transcription of viral genes, viral replication, viral shedding in vaginal sec…