Inhibition Of Measles Virus Infection In Cell Culture By RNA Interference

Measles takes a toll of one million people a year worldwide, especially in developing countries. As the so far applied vaccines were not able to control this disease, novel approaches to this problem are needed. SLAM (signaling lymphocytic activation molecule) is a newly identified second but main receptor of MV. In this study, we investigated the possibility of inhibition of measles virus (MV) infection through RNA interference (RNAi). namely the interference to the SLAM; in an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -transformed marmoset B cell line B95-8.Three potential target sequences in the SLAM gene were chosen and cloned into the pSilencer 3.0-H1 vector. The vector constructs were used for transfection of B95-8 cells in which SLAM was then detected by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR both at transcription and expression levels. One of the vector constructs was found to block effectively the SLAM expression as well as MV infection. These results suggest that siRNA3 could silence SLAM expression and inhibit the MV infection to host cells.Taken together, we reported that the designed RNAi3 vector targeting the mRNAof MV receptor SLAM could specifically and effectively silence the receptor gene expression and inhibit MV infection in mammalian cells. This study may be another choice that could be employed as a potential tool to inhibit M V infection by silencing SLAM.