ABSTRACT
Gene constructs microinjected into one-cell mouse embryos were recombinant sequences expressing antisense RNA complementary to the packaging sequences. Ribozymes function to cleave the target RNA sequence. An essential secondary structure of all the ribozymes for that enzymatic activity is the hammerhead structure. So far, there are no transgenic ribozyme animal models established to show resistance to or prevention of infectious diseases. Ribozymes have all of the attributes of an antisense RNA that functions catalytically. Actually, ribozymes are antisense RNAs with an added domain, or added function that cleaves the substrate RNA. Rabbits were chosen as the transgenic animals and introduced an antisense RNA gene against the E1a region of adenovirus h5 into the rabbit pronuclei. In conclusion, antisense technology has a strong potential to be applied to the prevention of infectious diseases in animals. The studies which combine antisense and transgenic animal production have been limited.
