Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
10:27
In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
1.9K
MicroRNAs: Biological Regulators in Pathogen-Host Interactions
Stephanie Maia Acuña1, Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter1, Sandra Marcia Muxel1
1Department of Physiology, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil.
Cells
|January 8, 2020
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs regulating gene expression critical for immune responses. This review explores their role in host defense against parasitic infections like leishmaniasis and malaria.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Inflammation is a key host defense mechanism against pathogens.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression.
- Emerging evidence highlights miRNAs' crucial role in immune responses and infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological functions of miRNAs.
- To focus on miRNA-mediated gene regulation in pathogen-host interactions.
- To discuss the implications of miRNAs in immune responses against specific parasitic infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on miRNAs, inflammation, and infectious diseases.
- Analysis of miRNA regulatory mechanisms in host-pathogen interactions.
- Synthesis of findings related to Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma, and Plasmodium.
Main Results:
- MicroRNAs fine-tune biological processes, including immune responses.
- Host miRNA regulation is linked to susceptibility or eradication of infections.
- Specific miRNAs play significant roles in the immune response against the studied parasites.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are vital regulators of gene expression during pathogen invasion.
- Understanding miRNA functions offers insights into host-pathogen dynamics.
- miRNAs represent potential targets for managing parasitic infectious diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
23.8K
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...
23.8K
01:22MicroRNAs
3.7K
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...
3.7K
01:23Types of RNA
72.3K
Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
72.3K
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
431
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
431
01:29Translational Regulation
471
Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
471
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
9.7K
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
9.7K