Rapid control of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks: is RNAi a possible solution?

RNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism of gene silencing that is being examined as an antiviral strategy in mammalian cells. Chen et al. have used this approach to examine its potential against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), an extremely contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. This Research Focus discusses these experiments and comments on the possible use of RNAi, as well as other antiviral strategies, as a rapid method of FMD control