Interpolyelectrolyte complexes of in vivo produced dsRNA with chitosan and alginate for enhanced plant protection against tobacco mosaic virus.

We developed a formulation of long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) using interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs) composed of the biopolymers chitosan and alginate, in order to protect the dsRNA from biotic and abiotic factors. Our primary objectives were to enhance stability of dsRNA against environmental nucleases and, secondarily, to mitigate the negative charge of the dsRNA, which may promote foliar uptake. Our approach relies on submicron particles with adjustable surface charge being either positive or negative.

Exogenous dsRNA triggers sequence-specific RNAi and fungal stress responses to control Magnaporthe oryzae in Brachypodium distachyon.

In vertebrates and plants, dsRNA plays crucial roles as PAMP and as a mediator of RNAi. How higher fungi respond to dsRNA is not known. We demonstrate that Magnaporthe oryzae (Mo), a globally significant crop pathogen, internalizes dsRNA across a broad size range of 21 to about 3000 bp.

Virus-specific Dicer-substrate siRNA swarms inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in TMPRSS2-expressing Vero E6 cells.

After 4 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate with epidemic waves caused by evolving new variants. Although the rapid development of vaccines and approved antiviral drugs has reduced virus transmission and mitigated the symptoms of infection, the continuous emergence of new variants and the lack of simple-use (non-hospitalized, easy timing, local delivery, direct acting, and host-targeting) treatment modalities have limited the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches against SARS-CoV-2 infection are still urgently needed.

Structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase P2 from the cystovirus φ8.

The replication of RNA viruses relies on the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). Despite large variations in their genomic sequences, viral RdRps share a common architecture generally known as a closed right hand. The P2 polymerase of cystovirus φ6 is currently among the best characterized viral RdRps.

Inline Raman Spectroscopy Provides Versatile Molecular Monitoring for Platelet Extracellular Vesicle Purification with Anion-Exchange Chromatography.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are relatively recently discovered biological nanoparticles that mediate intercellular communication. The development of new methods for the isolation and characterization of EVs is crucial to support further studies on these small and structurally heterogenous vesicles. New scalable production methods are also needed to meet the needs of future therapeutic applications.