**3.7. Short interfering RNAs**

In the search for discovery of efficient anti-AdV agents it was investigated the probable impact of silencing of a set of early, middle and late viral genes on the replication of AdV5 in vitro [49]. It was established that AdV replication was inhibited by siRNAs directed against AdV E1A, DNA polymerase, preterminal protein (pTR), IVa2, hexon, and protease genes. Besides, silencing of the early and middle genes was more effective in inhibiting AdV replication than the silencing of late genes, especially sharply manifested with effect on siRNA of the DNA polymerase gene. Besides, it was found that reducing the viral genome copy numbers (AdV DNA) is a more promising strategy than the reducing the number of proteins necessary for capsid formation.
