This dissertation, "Evaluation of Anti-human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Effects of Short Interfering RNAs and Β-defensin-4" by Ke, Zhang,, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection is a global public health burden in children aged under 2 years and immunocompromised or elderly adults. The choice for prophylaxis and therapy of hRSV infection was constrained to Palivizumab and Ribavirin. Therefore, this study aimed to develop effective anti-hRSV infection agents, such as short interfering RNA (siRNA) and β-defensin-4 (β-D-4). Since there still is no compatible animal model to evaluate antiviral effect of anti-hRSV agents, we first attempted to establish suitable animal model. A clinical isolate of hRSV (KI-RSV-W) was adapted in BALB/c mice by serial passages. Old male mice (age > 8 months) were used for establishment of hRSV infection model, because the more efficient viral infection in lungs of the old male mice than that old female mice and young mice (age We then designed and evaluated anti-hRSV effect of siRNAs. A total of 25 siRNAs targeting 4 viral genes (M2-1, NS2, N and F) were designed and their anti-hRSV effect was assessed in vitro. The results showed that 6 siRNAs respectively targeting M2-1, N and F genes exhibited higher anti-hRSV effect than that of the positive control, whereas those targeting NS2 gene did not show significant antiviral effect. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of three most potent siRNAs (M2-1-361, N889 and F-1143) were 0.51, 2.14 and 0.64 nM, respectively. Antiviral activity of β-D-4 against hRSV