Patent ID: 7297786

Claim:
A precursor RNAi molecule capable of inhibiting the expression of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) to which it corresponds comprising: a first oligonucleotide strand that is 22-30 nucleotides in length; and a second oligonucleotide strand that is 22-30 nucleotides in length and comprises a nucleotide sequence that is sufficiently complementary to a sequence of an RNA of a target gene to direct target-specific RNAi and wherein the second oligonucleotide strand anneals to the first oligonucleotide strand under biological conditions, wherein the first strand of RNA comprises SEQ ID NO:279 and the second strand of RNA comprises SEQ ID NO:280, and wherein the precursor RNAi molecule is a substrate for a Dicer.