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Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

Engineering microRNA responsiveness to decrease virus pathogenicity.

Elizabeth J Kelly1, Elizabeth M Hadac, Suzanne Greiner

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

Nature Medicine
|October 28, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Researchers modified a virus using microRNAs (miRNAs) to control its spread in the body. This engineered virus effectively targeted tumors without causing harmful muscle inflammation, offering new therapeutic possibilities.

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Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy
08:51

Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy

Published on: April 3, 2018

Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
06:02

Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors

Published on: September 13, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Viral tropism, the ability of a virus to infect specific cells or tissues, is crucial for its pathogenesis and is typically determined by viral entry receptors and host cell transcription factors.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and play significant roles in cellular differentiation and tissue-specific functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether tissue-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) can be utilized to control the tropism of oncolytic viruses.
  • To develop a strategy for attenuating viral replication in specific tissues to enhance therapeutic safety and efficacy.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered an oncolytic picornavirus by inserting target sequences for muscle-specific miRNAs into its 3' untranslated region (UTR).
  • Assessed the replication and pathogenicity of the recombinant virus in tumor-bearing mice, specifically evaluating its ability to infect tumors and cause myositis.
  • Utilized a control virus with a disrupted miRNA target sequence to rule out insertional attenuation as the cause of altered tropism.

Main Results:

  • The recombinant virus effectively replicated in subcutaneous tumors, leading to tumor regression and sustained viremia.
  • Replication of the engineered virus was significantly inhibited in cells expressing complementary muscle-specific miRNAs, preventing the development of myositis.
  • A control virus with a non-functional miRNA target sequence retained its original lethal myotropism, confirming the specificity of miRNA-mediated tropism control.

Conclusions:

  • Tissue-specific miRNAs can be effectively used to regulate and control the tropism of replicating viruses.
  • Insertion of miRNA target sequences into viral genomes offers a versatile strategy for controlling viral tropism for therapeutic applications, such as oncolytic virotherapy.
  • This approach provides a novel method for attenuating viruses, potentially enhancing their safety for vaccine development.