Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
09:05
MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
Published on: February 6, 2017
Viral miRNAs and immune evasion
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL, USA. iboss@ufl.edu
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|July 16, 2011
Summary
Viruses use microRNAs (miRNAs) to evade host immunity during infection. This review details how herpesvirus and polyomavirus miRNAs target genes, aiding viral persistence.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Viral infections establish persistence through complex immune evasion strategies.
- Viruses encode both protein-coding and non-coding genes to manipulate host cells.
- Small non-coding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs), are expressed by DNA viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on herpesvirus- and polyomavirus-encoded miRNAs.
- To elucidate the role of viral miRNAs in immune evasion.
- To summarize how these miRNAs target viral and host genes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on viral miRNAs.
- Analysis of miRNA sequences and functions.
- Examination of gene targets for immune modulation.
Main Results:
- Virally encoded miRNAs are non-immunogenic, facilitating immune evasion.
- These miRNAs effectively target both viral and host cellular genes.
- Herpesviruses and polyomaviruses utilize diverse miRNA pools for immune suppression.
Conclusions:
- Viral miRNAs are critical tools for immune evasion by DNA viruses.
- Targeting viral and host genes via miRNAs is a key strategy for viral persistence.
- Further research into viral miRNAs can reveal new therapeutic targets.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:22MicroRNAs
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...
01:22MicroRNAs
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...
01:22MicroRNAs
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...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
01:19Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...