# Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) Self-Amplifying RNA Delivered to J774A.1 Macrophage Lineage by Its Association with a Purified Recombinant SFV Capsid Protein

## TL;DR

This paper shows that a purified Semliki Forest virus protein can deliver self-amplifying RNA into macrophage cells, leading to successful gene expression.

## Contribution

Demonstrates functional delivery of self-amplifying RNA using purified recombinant SFV capsid protein in macrophage cells.

## Key findings

- Purified SFV capsid protein can associate with self-amplifying RNA even after high temperature treatment.
- Modified saRNA coding for GFP was successfully delivered to murine macrophage cells and expressed.
- The association of saRNA with recombinant SFV capsid protein retained functionality in target cells.

## Abstract

The Semliki Forest virus capsid protein (C) is an RNA binding protein which exhibits both specific and unspecific affinities to single-strand nucleic acids. The putative use of the self-amplifying RNAs (saRNAs) of alphaviruses for biotechnological purpose is one of the main studied strategies concerning RNA-based therapies or immunization. In this work, a recombinant C protein from SFV was expressed and purified from bacteria and used to associate in vitro with a saRNA derived from SFV. Results showed that the purified form of C protein can associate with the saRNA even after high temperature treatment. The C protein was associated with a modified saRNA coding for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and delivered to murine macrophage cells which expressed the GFP, showing that the saRNA was functional after being associated with the recombinant purified C protein.