Exploiting Genetic Interference for Antiviral Therapy

PLoS Genet. 2016 May 5;12(5):e1005986. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005986. eCollection 2016 May.

Abstract

Rapidly evolving viruses are a major threat to human health. Such viruses are often highly pathogenic (e.g., influenza virus, HIV, Ebola virus) and routinely circumvent therapeutic intervention through mutational escape. Error-prone genome replication generates heterogeneous viral populations that rapidly adapt to new selection pressures, leading to resistance that emerges with treatment. However, population heterogeneity bears a cost: when multiple viral variants replicate within a cell, they can potentially interfere with each other, lowering viral fitness. This genetic interference can be exploited for antiviral strategies, either by taking advantage of a virus's inherent genetic diversity or through generating de novo interference by engineering a competing genome. Here, we discuss two such antiviral strategies, dominant drug targeting and therapeutic interfering particles. Both strategies harness the power of genetic interference to surmount two particularly vexing obstacles-the evolution of drug resistance and targeting therapy to high-risk populations-both of which impede treatment in resource-poor settings.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics*
  • Ebolavirus / drug effects
  • Ebolavirus / genetics*
  • Ebolavirus / pathogenicity
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome, Viral
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / pathogenicity
  • Selection, Genetic / genetics
  • Virus Replication / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents