Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 27, 2025

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

7.7K

A placental specific miRNA miR-517a-3p exerts anti-human cytomegalovirus activity

Stuart T Hamilton1, Friedrich Hahn2, Eric Sonntag2

  • 1Serology and Virology Division, SEALS Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia.

Placenta
|July 23, 2021
PubMed

Human cytomegalovirus congenital infection is the leading non-genetic cause of fetal malformation in developed countries. There are currently no safe antivirals for use during pregnancy. Placental trophoblast cells specifically secrete exosomes containing miRNA from the chromosome 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC) which confer viral resistance to recipient cells. We show the highly expressed C19MC miRNA miR-517a-3p inhibits HCMV replication and viral protein expression in both fibroblast and trophoblast cell cultures (71.6% and 50.4% inhibition of HCMV DNA at 7 days post infection respectively; p < 0.05). This naturally occurring molecule has potential for opening-up antiviral therapeutic strategies for pregnancy.

Keywords:
AntiviralsCongenital infectionCytomegalovirusPlacentaPregnancy

More Related Videos

Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates05:53

Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates

Published on: July 6, 2013

15.2K
In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice07:02

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

7.6K

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...
3.3K
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...
22.5K