Long dsRNA mediated RNA interference (dsRNAi) is antiviral in interferon competent mammalian cells

Abstract In invertebrate cells, RNA interference (RNAi) acts as a powerful defense against virus infection by cleaving virally produced long dsRNA into siRNA by Dicer and loaded into RISC which can then destroy/disrupt complementary viral mRNA sequences. Comparatively in mammalian cells, the type I interferon (IFN) pathway is the cornerstone of the innate antiviral response. Although the cellular machinery for RNAi functions in …