Commentary
RNA interference: a multifaceted innate antiviral defense
-
Correspondence: Ajit Kumar akumar@gwu.edu
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. George Washington University School of Medicine. 2300 I Street, N.W. Washington, D.C 20037, USA
Retrovirology 2008, 5:17 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-5-17
Published: 1 February 2008Abstract
The RNA interference mechanism utilizes short RNA duplexes to either suppress or induce target gene expression. Post-transcriptional regulation mediated by microRNA is an integral component of innate antiviral defense. The magnitude and the efficiency of viral restriction guided by RNA-based defenses, as well as the full physiological implication of host-pathogen engagement, constitute exciting areas of investigation in the biology of non-coding RNAs.