Methods and compositions for treating insects
First Claim
1. A method for treating disease in an insect, the method comprising administering to the insect a composition comprising a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecule or a vector encoding a dsRNA molecule, and a delivery agent, wherein the dsRNA molecule is 19-24 nucleotides long, comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, and modulates gene expression of an insect, wherein the double-stranded region of the dsRNA is about 19 nucleotides in length, andwherein the dsRNA further comprises (i) at least one mismatch, (ii) a 5′
- -terminal dinucleotide overhang, or a 3′
-terminal dinucleotide overhang, or both a 5′
- and 3′
-dinucleotide overhang, and (iii) at least one asymmetrical modification, andwherein the dsRNA molecule comprises at least one nucleotide modification to increase stabilization of the dsRNA, the modification selected from the group consisting of;
(i) a 5′
-phosphorothioate or 5′
-phosphorodithioate modifications within the double stranded region,(ii) a phosphorothioate modification within the nucleotides at the terminal overhang region,(iii) a cationic modification of nucleotides 1 and 2 on the 5′
terminus, wherein the cationic modification is at the C5 position of pyrimidines and C2, C6 and C8, exocyclic N2 or exocyclic N6 of purines,(iv) at least one 2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification(v) at least one 2′
-O-methyl/2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification,(vi) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 3′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified methoxyethyl (MOE) at 2′
-position, and(vii) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 5′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified MOE at 2′
-position; and
wherein modulation of the gene treats the disease.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating gene expression in insects by administering a composition comprising an RNA effector molecule and a delivery agent. Methods are provided for controlling pest populations by inhibiting insect growth, development, survival, reproduction and/or viability. Also provided herein are methods for treating or preventing disease in an insect caused by a pathogen or by external factors (e.g., pollution, environment, stress, weather, etc.).
11 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for treating disease in an insect, the method comprising administering to the insect a composition comprising a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecule or a vector encoding a dsRNA molecule, and a delivery agent, wherein the dsRNA molecule is 19-24 nucleotides long, comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, and modulates gene expression of an insect, wherein the double-stranded region of the dsRNA is about 19 nucleotides in length, and
wherein the dsRNA further comprises (i) at least one mismatch, (ii) a 5′ - -terminal dinucleotide overhang, or a 3′
-terminal dinucleotide overhang, or both a 5′
- and 3′
-dinucleotide overhang, and (iii) at least one asymmetrical modification, andwherein the dsRNA molecule comprises at least one nucleotide modification to increase stabilization of the dsRNA, the modification selected from the group consisting of; (i) a 5′
-phosphorothioate or 5′
-phosphorodithioate modifications within the double stranded region,(ii) a phosphorothioate modification within the nucleotides at the terminal overhang region, (iii) a cationic modification of nucleotides 1 and 2 on the 5′
terminus, wherein the cationic modification is at the C5 position of pyrimidines and C2, C6 and C8, exocyclic N2 or exocyclic N6 of purines,(iv) at least one 2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification(v) at least one 2′
-O-methyl/2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification,(vi) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 3′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified methoxyethyl (MOE) at 2′
-position, and(vii) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 5′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified MOE at 2′
-position; andwherein modulation of the gene treats the disease. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- -terminal dinucleotide overhang, or a 3′
-
15. A method for modulating gene expression in an insect, the method comprising:
- administering to the insect a composition comprising a dsRNA molecule or a vector encoding a dsRNA molecule and a delivery agent, wherein the dsRNA molecule is 19-24 nucleotides long, comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, and modulates gene expression in the insect,
wherein the double-stranded region of the dsRNA is about 19 nucleotides in length, and wherein the dsRNA further comprises (i) at least one mismatch, (ii) a 5′
-terminal dinucleotide overhang, or a 3′
-terminal dinucleotide overhang, or both a 5′
- and 3′
-dinucleotide overhang, and (iii) at least one asymmetrical modification, andwherein the dsRNA molecule comprises at least one nucleotide modification to increase stabilization of the dsRNA, the modification selected from the group consisting of; (i) a 5′
-phosphorothioate or 5′
-phosphorodithioate modifications within the double stranded region,(ii) a phosphorothioate modification within the nucleotides at the terminal overhang region, (iii) a cationic modification of nucleotides 1 and 2 on the 5′
terminus, wherein the cationic modification is at the C5 position of pyrimidines and C2, C6 and C8, exocyclic N2 or exocyclic N6 of purines,(iv) at least one 2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification(v) at least one 2′
-O-methyl/2′
-fluoro modified nucleotide comprising a nucleobase modification,(vi) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 3′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified methoxyethyl (MOE) at 2′
-position, and(vii) a 5′
-PuPu-3′
dinucleotide at the 5′
terminal of at least one of the strands in the dsRNA molecule wherein both nucleotides comprise a modified MOE at 2′
-position; andwherein modulation of the gene treats a disease. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- administering to the insect a composition comprising a dsRNA molecule or a vector encoding a dsRNA molecule and a delivery agent, wherein the dsRNA molecule is 19-24 nucleotides long, comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, and modulates gene expression in the insect,
Specification