Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Insights into RNA Interference as Antiviral Defense

Abstract

Purushottam Narute

The beginning of this century is marked by discovery of “RNA interference (RNAi)” and led to Nobel Prize award in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Andrew Z Fire and Craig C Mello in 2006. Initially discovered as innate antiviral defense mechanism in plant it has great implications as therapeutic tools to combat with animal and human viruses as well as research tool to study disease pathogenesis. This article reviews the mechanism of RNAi and outlines recent research directed toward development as antiviral defense in human and animal diseases.