A little question about an idea

[Lyle Najita]

In article <reon.1.000CA662 at infruit.agric.za>, reon at infruit.agric.za (Reon
Brand) wrote:

> Interesting
> 
> How about a "disarmed retrovirus" that encodes an antisense mRNA copy of the 
> receptor protein for a particular retrovirus.  Could this protect cells 
> against infection?

Interesting idea, although as with any strategy aimed against a host cell
protein, there might be dire consequences to the host cell or host
organism of functionally deleting such a receptor. Targetting the
antisense mRNA would not be useful in this case since the receptor would
have to be eliminated from any potential host cells. 

L
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