Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025

High Throughput In Vitro Assessment of Latency Reversing Agents on HIV Transcription and Splicing
Published on: January 22, 2019
Role of MicroRNAs in Establishing Latency of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Muhammad Munam Mustafa Bukhari1, Iqra Mir1, Muhammad Idrees2
1Division of Molecular Virology, National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract:
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) emerged as an epidemic in Africa in 1981, and now it has become a most destructive global pandemic. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is responsible for the pathogenesis of AIDS, and it is usually transmitted through unsafe sexual activities. HIV is a lentivirus that can remain latent in the host cells for a long period, and it has various mechanisms to establish latency. The HIV genome encodes several microRNAs (miRNA-TAR, miRNA-H1, miRNA-H3, and miRNA-Nef-367) that act as posttranscriptional control by targeting mRNA sequences. The miRNA-TAR, miRNA-Nef-367, and miRNA-H1 have established roles in HIV latency, whereas miRNA-H3 can activate the latent reservoirs of HIV. The human genome also encodes several miRNAs that have defensive roles against infections. Cellular miRNAs (miRNA-29a, miRNA-146a, miRNA-34c-5'p, miRNA-186, miRNA-210 and miRNA-222) also contribute to viral latency. The most challenging hurdle in the development of effective HIV therapeutics is viral latency. A complete understanding of latency will enable us to develop efficient therapeutics and to eradicate HIV from the globe.
Related Concept Videos
MicroRNAs
MicroRNAs
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
Viruses with RNA Genomes

