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 together form a region of complementarity, and wherein said sense strand consists of UGUUGAAUGUUGGGUUCCUTT (SEQ ID NO: 936) and said antisense strand consists of AGGAACCCAACAUUCAACATT (SEQ ID NO: 937).

2. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein at least one nucleotide of said sense strand or said antisense strand is a modified nucleotide.

3. The dsRNA of claim 2 , wherein said modified nucleotide is chosen from the group of: a 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide, a nucleotide comprising a 5′-phosphorothioate group, and a terminal nucleotide linked to a cholesteryl derivative or dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group.

4. The dsRNA of claim 2 , wherein said modified nucleotide is chosen from the group of: a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro modified nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy-modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide, 2′-amino-modified nucleotide, 2′-alkyl-modified nucleotide, morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidate, and a non-natural base comprising nucleotide.

5. A cell comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 .

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

7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a lipid.

8. A method for inhibiting the expression of a gene from a 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 a JC Virus, thereby inhibiting expression of a gene from a JC Virus in the cell.

9. A method of inhibiting replication of a JC virus in a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount of the dsRNA of claim 1 effective to inhibit replication of the virus.

10. A vector for inhibiting the expression of a gene from a JC Virus in a cell, said vector being capable of a) expressing the dsRNA of claim 1 as a single RNA molecule with two complementary regions; or alternatively b) expressing each strand of the dsRNA of claim 1 under the control of a separate promoter.

11. A cell comprising the vector of claim 10 .

12. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein said sense strand consists of uGuuGAAuGuuGGGuuccuTsT (SEQ ID NO: 131), and wherein said antisense strand consists of AgGAACCcAAcAUUcAAcATsT (SEQ ID NO:132), wherein u is a uridine ribonucleotide having a 2′-O-methyl modification, and wherein c is a cytidine ribonucleotide having a 2′-O-methyl modification, and wherein g is a guanosine ribonucleotide having a 2′-O-methyl modification and s is a phosphorothioate between nucleotides 20 and 21.

13. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the expression of a gene from a JC Virus in an organism, comprising the dsRNA of claim 12 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a lipid.

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

(a) introducing into the cell the dsRNA of claim 12 ; and

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

16. A method of inhibiting replication of a JC virus in a patient comprising administering to the patient an amount of the dsRNA of claim 12 effective to inhibit replication of the virus.