Potato is a major food crop that has the potential to feed the increasing global population. Potato is the fourth most important crop and a staple food for many people worldwide. The traditional breeding of potato poses many challenges because of its autotetraploid nature and its tendency toward inbreeding depression. Moreover, potato crops suffer considerable production losses because of infections caused by plant viruses. In this context, RNA silencing technology has been successfully applied in model and crop species. In this review, we describe the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms, including small-interfering RNA, microRNA, and artificial microRNA, which may be used to engineer resistance against potato viruses. We also explore the latest advances in the development of antiviral strategies to enhance resistance against potato virus X, potato virus Y, potato virus A, potato leafroll virus, and potato spindle tuber viroid. Furthermore, the challenges in RNAi that need to be overcome are described in this review. Altogether, this report would be insightful for the researchers attempting to understand the RNAi-mediated resistance against viruses in potato.

To investigate the expression profiles of the transcription factor specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and collagen I in recurrent pterygial tissues. What is more, to compare the changes of Sp1 and collagen I among primary pterygial tissue, recurrent pterygial tissue and conjunctival tissue. In the prospective study, we collected the pterygial tissues of 40 patients who underwent resection of primary pterygial tissue and recurrent pterygial tissue, and the conjunctival tissues of 10 patients with enucleation due to trauma. The relative expression levels of Sp1 and collagen I were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Paired t-test was performed to compare the Sp1 and collagen I of recurrent pterygial tissues, as well as the primary pterygial tissues and conjunctival tissues. In further, Pearson's hypothesis testing of correlation coefficients was used to compare the correlations of Sp1 and Collagen I. The content of Sp1 and collagen I mRNA and protein was significantly greater in recurrent pterygial tissue than that was in primary and conjunctival tissue (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the mRNA and protein levels of Sp1 and collagen I in recurrent pterygial tissues (protein: r=0.913, P<0.05; mRNA: r=0.945, P<0.05). Sp1 and collagen I are expressed in normal conjunctival, primary, and recurrent pterygial tissues, but expression is significantly greater in the latter. Sp1 and collagen I may be involved in the regulation of the development of recurrent pterygium.