The Tiny Epigenetic Addition Plays Big Roles: The RNA Methylation in Both Human and Animal Herpesvirus Infection

During human herpesvirus infection, dynamic alterations of N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification have been extensively observed in viral and cellular transcriptomes. This modification plays a crucial role in RNA metabolism, serving as a novel regulator of gene expression alongside DNA and protein modifications. Notably, reversible changes in a single m⁶A modification site can impact viral replication and pathogenicity. Recent studies have reported changes in m⁶A modification-associated epitranscriptomes and their functional analysis during animal herpesvirus infections. This review focuses on the research progress of m⁶A modification on the transcriptome in both human and animal herpesvirus infections within the same family. Specifically, it examines the dynamic alterations of m⁶A modification-associated epitranscriptomes, the expression of m⁶A-machinery proteins, regulatory molecular mechanisms associated with herpesvirus infection, and potential clinical applications. By addressing the gaps in research on m⁶A modification in animal viruses, new insights into the regulatory molecular mechanisms of viral diseases may be uncovered. Furthermore, natural hosts infected with animal herpesvirus serve as valuable biomedical models for studying the regulation of m⁶A modification on viral replication and pathogenesis, thereby supporting the development of novel vaccine and drug targets.