| abstract |
Si hybrids for use in gene silencing are disclosed. sihybrids are short, double stranded molecules in which one DNA strand and one RNA strand are annealed together and have two-base protrusions at each 3 'end. In addition to DNA and RNA, it may contain PNA or other nucleic acid analogs. siHybrid can silence genes with greater degree and persistence than siRNA, and they can also silence bacterial genes that siRNA cannot. sihybrids are ideal candidates for pharmaceutical and therapeutic agents for treating diseases caused by overexpressed or cancerous genes. They can also be used as antibiotics when targeting essential native bacterial genes. si hybrids can be used as antiviral agents, fungicides, herbicides or insecticides. Appropriate si hybrids may be designed to silence any gene in any cell of any organism. |