The RNAi vs. HIV Site - RNA Interference vs. the Human Immunodeficiency Virus


[HOME] BACKGROUND [RNAi] [Difficulties] [Terms] FEATURED EXPERIMENTS [RNAi vs HIV mRNA] [RNAi Combination Therapy] [RNAi Against Receptors] [RNAi by shRNA] [Computer Simulations] [SUMMARY] RESOURCES [Papers] [Websites] [Companies]	RNA Interference (RNAi) is a potential RNA based therapy that can be used to silence the effects of specific genes. The RNAi process makes use of a pathway that exists in most cells as a defense mechanism against foreign genetic material. Since this pathway is found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, it probably evolved before the evolutionary split in these two cell types. The RNAi pathway was discovered by accident in 1986. It was described in mammalian cells only in 2001. Since then several "proof of principle" studies have shown that RNAi can be used to specifically neutralize the harmful effects of nucleic acid associated diseases. To date, RNAi experiments have focused on such diseases as HIV, Cancer, Hepatitis C, and Huntington's disease [Nova]. This website focuses on RNA Interference and its effectiveness against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a retrovirus of the genus Lentivirus. It primarily affects cells of the human immune system. There are two strains of the virus--HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the most dangerous and easily transmitted strain. Both strains originated in primates as SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV-1 crossed to humans from the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodyte troglodyte, while HIV-2 made the cross from Sooty Mangabey monkeys (Cercocebus atys). For a comprehensive article on all aspects of HIV please see Wikipedia.
	According to the UNAIDS 2005 AIDS Epidemic Update, there are currently 40.3 million people living with the infection. 25.8 million of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, while 7.4 million live in South and South-East Asia. 1.2 million people in North America are infected with HIV. In the year 2005 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV, while 3.1 million people died from the disease. RNAi vs. HIV Website - Navigation Bar Explanation The following is an explanation of the Navigation Bar to the left. The user is advised to progress through the links in a top to bottom fashion. [HOME] will bring the user back to this page. BACKGROUND contains information necessary to understand RNAi and its applicability to HIV. [RNAi] contains a basic explanation of the molecular mechanism of RNA Interference. [Difficulties] elaborate on some of the difficulties faced by those attempting to develop RNAi into an effective therapy for HIV. [Terms] contains a useful glossary of acronyms and the scientific vocabulary necessary to understand the site. FEATURED EXPERIMENTS is designed to familiarize the user with the many faces of RNAi. This section is divided into five general categories. Although many experiments belong to only one of these categories, it is possible for an RNAi experiment to incorporate features from multiple categories. Each category features a real scientific paper that uses RNAi to fight HIV in a manner relevant to that category. [RNAi vs HIV mRNA] - RNAi targeted against mRNA produced by the HIV provirus. [RNAi Combination Therapy] - RNAi used in combination with ribozymes and decoy RNA. [RNAi Against Receptors] - RNAi targeted against receptors used by HIV to enter a cell. [RNAi by shRNA] - how shRNA can prolong the RNAi effect. [Computer Simulations] - computer programs that simulate a HIV infection fought by RNAi. [SUMMARY] - features a summary by the author of RNAi as a weapon against HIV. RESOURCES contains links to the papers used in this site, as well as links to other resources that the user might find valuable. This section is divided into three subsections: [Papers] - Scientific papers on RNAi directed against HIV. [Websites] - Articles, educational pages, and websites on RNAi and HIV. [Companies] - Commercial companies that make products and conduct research relevant to RNAi. The RNAi vs. HIV site was created in 2005 by Tim Baptist, as a project requirement for BIOL3046 - A molecular evolution class offered by Dalhousie University's Biology Department. Tim Baptist is a 3rd year Biology Major at Dalhousie University. BIOL3046 is taught by Dr. Joseph Bielawski. Dalhousie University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. All questions and comments should be sent via electronic mail to Tbaptist@dal.ca.

[HOME]

BACKGROUND

FEATURED EXPERIMENTS

RESOURCES

RNA Interference (RNAi) is a potential RNA based therapy that can be used to silence the effects of specific genes. The RNAi process makes use of a pathway that exists in most cells as a defense mechanism against foreign genetic material. Since this pathway is found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, it probably evolved before the evolutionary split in these two cell types.

The RNAi pathway was discovered by accident in 1986. It was described in mammalian cells only in 2001. Since then several "proof of principle" studies have shown that RNAi can be used to specifically neutralize the harmful effects of nucleic acid associated diseases. To date, RNAi experiments have focused on such diseases as HIV, Cancer, Hepatitis C, and Huntington's disease [Nova].

This website focuses on RNA Interference and its effectiveness against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a retrovirus of the genus Lentivirus. It primarily affects cells of the human immune system. There are two strains of the virus--HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the most dangerous and easily transmitted strain. Both strains originated in primates as SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV-1 crossed to humans from the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodyte troglodyte, while HIV-2 made the cross from Sooty Mangabey monkeys (Cercocebus atys). For a comprehensive article on all aspects of HIV please see Wikipedia.

According to the UNAIDS 2005 AIDS Epidemic Update, there are currently 40.3 million people living with the infection. 25.8 million of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, while 7.4 million live in South and South-East Asia. 1.2 million people in North America are infected with HIV. In the year 2005 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV, while 3.1 million people died from the disease.

RNAi vs. HIV Website - Navigation Bar Explanation

The following is an explanation of the Navigation Bar to the left. The user is advised to progress through the links in a top to bottom fashion.

[HOME] will bring the user back to this page.

BACKGROUND contains information necessary to understand RNAi and its applicability to HIV.

[RNAi] contains a basic explanation of the molecular mechanism of RNA Interference.
[Difficulties] elaborate on some of the difficulties faced by those attempting to develop RNAi into an effective therapy for HIV.
[Terms] contains a useful glossary of acronyms and the scientific vocabulary necessary to understand the site.

FEATURED EXPERIMENTS is designed to familiarize the user with the many faces of RNAi. This section is divided into five general categories. Although many experiments belong to only one of these categories, it is possible for an RNAi experiment to incorporate features from multiple categories. Each category features a real scientific paper that uses RNAi to fight HIV in a manner relevant to that category.

[RNAi vs HIV mRNA] - RNAi targeted against mRNA produced by the HIV provirus.
[RNAi Combination Therapy] - RNAi used in combination with ribozymes and decoy RNA.
[RNAi Against Receptors] - RNAi targeted against receptors used by HIV to enter a cell.
[RNAi by shRNA] - how shRNA can prolong the RNAi effect.
[Computer Simulations] - computer programs that simulate a HIV infection fought by RNAi.

[SUMMARY] - features a summary by the author of RNAi as a weapon against HIV.

RESOURCES contains links to the papers used in this site, as well as links to other resources that the user might find valuable. This section is divided into three subsections:

[Papers] - Scientific papers on RNAi directed against HIV.
[Websites] - Articles, educational pages, and websites on RNAi and HIV.
[Companies] - Commercial companies that make products and conduct research relevant to RNAi.

The RNAi vs. HIV site was created in 2005 by Tim Baptist, as a project requirement for BIOL3046 - A molecular evolution class offered by Dalhousie University's Biology Department. Tim Baptist is a 3rd year Biology Major at Dalhousie University. BIOL3046 is taught by Dr. Joseph Bielawski. Dalhousie University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. All questions and comments should be sent via electronic mail to Tbaptist@dal.ca.