Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan Envelope Vectors as High-Performance Vehicles for Delivery of Small RNAs

Hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) vectors are particulate forms of the Sendai virus, and are characterized by maintained cell membrane fusion activities and completely inactivated genomes. HVJ-E vectors can be safely used as a non-viral transfection tools for laboratory research without the need for special protocols or equipment. HVJ-E particles are loaded with molecules such as DNA, proteins, antisense oligonucleotides, or small RNAs, to form HVJ-E vectors that carry these molecules into target cells by virtue of their membrane fusion activity. Interference by small RNAs such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) is now established as an important biological strategy for gene silencing, and is becoming an essential method for analyzing biological processes. Various delivery reagents are currently available globally; however, delivery to non-adherent immune cells, particularly primary immune cells, remains extremely difficult. The simple and effective delivery capabilities of HVJ-E vectors overcome the above obstacle. Here we describe examples and demonstrate the utility and potential applications of HVJ-E vectors as high-performance vehicles for delivery of small RNAs.