Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Genetics

Influenza A viruses infects birds, animals and humans and it has the ability to mutate and develop mutant variants which may cause unexpected events. Using bioinformatics tools, optimal design of universal therapeutic short-interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules were designed for targeting all diverse of the virus strains. The utilization of siRNA as a molecular target to silence gene expression has been used extensively as a research tool in functional genomics. Using the genome analysis of the influenza A virus in GenBank, short-interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules was designed and performed a combinatorial exhaustive systematic methodology for optimal design of universal therapeutic targeting all diverse influenza A viruses. A total of 1658 sequences were designed using tools (siVIRUS, SDS, i-score designer and siDirect). This work focused on selection and validation of optimal siRNAs targeting the polymerase genes of the influenza viruses. Selection of PB1-CR08_032 (si 17) and PA-CR17_021 (si 19) as candidate optimal siRNAs for influenza virus silencing was based on the novel in silico bioinformatics methodology for siRNA design. Best siRNAs that target segments PB1 and PA of Influenza A virus are recommended as novel potent specific viral silencers

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