ANTISENSE-MEDIATED RESISTANCE TO MEASLES-VIRUS INFECTION IN HELA-CELLS

Endogenous expression of antisense RNA in transfected cells has been e xplored for use in blocking cellular gene expression and for its antiv iral potential. Antisense strategies were used with the goal of blocki ng measles virus (MV) infection. A recombinant expression plasmid was designed to produce antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the 5' end of the MV nucleocapsid protein mRNA. This construct was transfected in to HeLa cells. The transfected cell line and a control cell line expre ssing a random RNA comprising the same nucleotides were infected with MV and assessed for viral resistance by observation of cytopathic effe ct (CPE); infectious virus was quantified by viral plaque assay. Both cell lines were also infected with a related paramyxovirus, mumps viru s, as a specificity control. Both CPE and infectious virus were reduce d by similar to 90% in the antisense-expressing line compared with tha t in control cells or transfectant cells expressing random RNA. There was no evidence of resistance to infection with mumps virus in any cel l line.