Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of a gene from the JC virus

1. A double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a human JC virus genome in a cell, wherein said dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand that form a duplex structure, wherein said sense strand consists of uguuGAAuGuuGGGuuccuTsT (SEQ ID NO: 137) and said antisense strand consists of AgGAACCcAAcAUUcAAcATsT (SEQ ID NO:138),

wherein each strand is modified to include a 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotide as indicated by a lower case letter “c” and “u” and g” and a phosphorothioate as indicated by a lower case letter “s” and wherein said dsRNA, upon contact with a cell expressing said JC virus, inhibits expression of said JC virus genome.

2. A cell comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 .

3. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the JC Virus in an organism, comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a lipid.

5. A method for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the JC Virus in a cell, the method comprising:

(a) introducing into the cell the dsRNA of claim 1 ; and

(b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of a gene from the JC Virus, thereby inhibiting expression of a gene from the JC Virus in the cell.

6. A method of treating or managing pathological processes mediated by JC virus expression comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment or management a therapeutically effective amount of the dsRNA of claim 1 .