Inventors:
Hengli Tang - Tallahassee FL, US
Assignee:
Florida State University Research Foundation - Tallahassee FL
International Classification:
C07H 21/04
C07H 21/02
A61K 48/00
C12N 15/63
US Classification:
536 245, 514 44, 4353201, 536 231
Abstract:
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or small hairpin RNA (shRNAs) and compositions comprising same are provided that specifically target human cyclophilin A (CyPA) to effectively inhibit Hepatitis C (HCV) infection in a cell. Such siRNA and shRNAs may have a length of from about 19 to about 29 contiguous nucleotides corresponding to a specific region of human cyclophilin A (CyPA) cDNA of from about nucleotide 155 to about nucleotide 183 having particular potency against CyPA and HCV. Such siRNA and shRNAs may be formulated as naked compositions or as pharmaceutical compositions. DNA polynucleotides, plasmids, and viral or non-viral vectors are also provided that encode siRNA or shRNA molecules, which may be delivered directly to cells or in combination with known delivery agents, such as lipids, polymers, encapsulated lipid particles, such as liposomes. Methods for treating, managing inhibiting, preventing, etc. , HCV infection using such siRNA and shRNAs and compositions comprising same are also provided.