Target mRNAs specified by the 7 shRNA sequences

Target mRNAs specified by the 7 shRNA sequences refers to a collective set of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) targeted by a multiplexed RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic strategy, most notably developed for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. This specific approach, pioneered by researchers at the City of Hope and Benitec Biopharma, utilizes a single genetic construct (often a lentiviral vector) to express seven distinct short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) or microRNA-adapted shRNAs (shRNA-miRs). These seven sequences are designed to simultaneously silence the human CCR5 co-receptor (a key host factor for viral entry) and six essential regions within the HIV-1 viral genome, including the Gag, Pol, Env, Tat, and Vif genes. By targeting multiple sites across both host and viral transcripts, this combinatorial RNAi (co-RNAi) strategy aims to achieve potent viral suppression while significantly increasing the genetic barrier to viral escape, a major challenge for single-target RNAi therapies. Although primarily an investigational tool and a proof-of-concept for multiplexed gene therapy, this target set represents a sophisticated attempt to overcome the high mutation rate of HIV-1 through multi-pronged molecular intervention.

Other names

HIV-1 and CCR5 mRNAs7-shRNA-miR targetsMultiplexed anti-HIV shRNA targetsCombinatorial RNAi targets

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated degradation of target mRNAs