Category: Computer Simulations

Featured Paper:  "Computational Design of Antiviral RNA Interference Strategies That Resist Human Immunodeficiency Virus Escape."

Authors:  Joshua N. Leonard and David V. Schaffer.

Year of Publication: 2005

Journal:  Journal of Virology. Vol. 79, 1645-1654

Online Availability:  Full Text at PubMed Central.

Significance

There have been computer models in the past that model viral infections to varying degrees of success.  However, there are few models that are based on retroviruses, and even fewer that deal with how an HIV infection spreads in an organism. 

          The authors of the featured paper in this category have created the first stochastic simulation that models a retroviral infection in molecular-level detail.  The model is especially tuned to aid researchers studying the effects of RNAi on HIV. 

          This model predicts that inhibition efficacy can be improved by targeting multiple locations in the HIV genome while keeping the overall RNAi strength constant.  It also stresses the importance of competent delivery systems.  A delivery system that does not penetrate all of the required cells can leave pockets of infected cells where the virus can survive, mutate, and eventually take over the system.

          In a "proof of principle" study, a delivery system is usually used on only one type of infected cell.  When the point in time is reached where many RNAi studies are clinical in nature, computer models such as the one featured on this page will be highly valuable.