ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Bioinform., 14 January 2025

Sec. RNA Bioinformatics

Volume 4 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbinf.2024.1487292

hsa-miR-548d-3p: a potential microRNA to target nucleocapsid and/or capsid genes in multiple members of the Flaviviridae family

  • Hakim’s Lab, Department of Biology, School of STEM, Diné College, Tuba City, AZ, United States

Abstract

Introduction:

Flaviviridae comprise a group of enveloped, positive-stranded RNA viruses that are mainly transmitted through either mosquitoes or tick bites and/or contaminated blood, blood products, or other body secretions. These viruses cause diseases ranging from mild to severe and are considered important human pathogens. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding molecules involved in growth, development, cell proliferation, protein synthesis, apoptosis, and pathogenesis. These small molecules are even being used as gene suppressors in antiviral therapeutics, inhibiting viral replication. In the current study, we used bioinformatic tools to predict a possible miRNA sequence that could be complementary to the nucleocapsid (NP) and/or capsid (CP) gene of the Flaviviridae family and provide an inhibitory solution.

Methods:

Bioinformatics is a field of science that includes tremendous computational analysis, logarithms, and sequence alignments. To predict the right alignments between miRNA and viral mRNA genomes, we used computational databases such as miRBase, NCBI, and Basic Alignment Search Tool–nucleotides (BLAST-n).

Results:

Of the 2,600 mature miRNAs, hsa-miR-548d-3p revealed complementary sequences with the flavivirus capsid gene and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) capsid gene and was selected as a possible candidate to inhibit flaviviruses.

Conclusion:

Although more detailed in vitro and in vivo studies are required to test the possible inhibitory effects of hsa-miR-548d-3p against flaviviruses, this computational study may be the first step to study further, developing a novel therapeutic for lethal viruses within the Flaviviridae family using suggested candidate miRNAs.

Introduction

Arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) are a group of viruses that are classified into different taxonomic families such as Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Togaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Reoviridae, and Asfarviridae, with Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, and Bunyaviridae being the families that cause disease in humans (). In this study, we primarily focused on the Flaviviridae family, which includes four species of pestiviruses, namely, bovine viral diarrhea viruses 1 and 2 (BVDV 1 and BVDV2), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and border disease virus (BDV) (Mari et al., 2016; Maurer et al., 2004; Warrener and Collett, 1995; Schweize and Peterhans, 2001). The Flavivirus genus also includes global human pathogens such as Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JENV), dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which all pose a threat to global public health (; Reed et al., 1998). Hepacivirus, another member of the flavivirus family, or hepatitis C virus or simply HCV, is responsible for non-A and non-B hepatitis among humans (; Merwaiss et al., 2019; Suzich et al., 1993). This genus also includes additional 50 arthropod-borne viruses, which are mainly transmitted via mosquito bites and tick bites () (Figure 1). Although the primary vectors are mainly mosquitos and ticks, these viruses have also been detected and isolated from bats and rodents ().

FIGURE 1

The incubation period of flavivirus infections in humans can range from 3 to 6 days (), with presentation of acute flavivirus diseases ranging from being mild to severe and can be life-threatening (Pierson and Diamond, 2020). Pierson and Diamond mentioned that the symptoms of mild illness are mostly similar to flu-like symptoms, which includes asymptomatic infection and/or self-limiting febrile episodes, while severe illness includes hemorrhagic fever, shock syndrome, encephalitis, paralysis, congenital defects, hepatitis, and hepatic failure (2020; ). Although there are vaccines currently available for most of these viruses, which have also been successful, however, due to re-establishment of vectors, globalization, and urbanizations, epidemics continue to occur, which restricts effectiveness of these vaccines (; ; van Leur et al., 2021). People infected with DENV can develop more severe manifestations like dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which includes vascular leakage or hypovolemic shock and coagulopathy, followed by bleeding, organ impartment, and death (Simmons et al., 2012; ).

Of these flaviviruses, WNV and JENV are known as neurotropic viruses and cause acute encephalopathy, causing severe neuroinflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) and the blood–brain barrier (). In WNV, symptoms include flaccid paralysis, convulsions, cranial neuropathies, optic neuritis, ataxia, stiffness, rigidity spasms, and tremors that might cause long-term neurological changes (World Health Organization, 2019). JENV shows symptoms similar to that of WNV but is rare and has a much higher fatality rate of 30% (World Health Organization, 2019). TBEV, is also a member of the encephalitis virus family like WNV and JENV, but on the contrary, it is not transmitted by mosquitos like the other members of the arbovirus family, rather it is transmitted by infected tick (Ixodes ricinus) bites that can spread from animals to humans (Turtle et al., 2012).

HCV, another member of flaviviruses, attacks the hepatocytes (liver cells) in humans (Song et al., 2001), causing inflammation of the liver. HCV is a blood-borne virus and is transmitted primarily through infected blood and/or blood products or contaminated body fluids. One example of possible HCV transmission is the sharing of needles among drug abusers who use needle injections. In the mid 2000s, HCV transmission has also occurred among men who have sexual encounters with other men, also known as Men sex with other men (MSM) (Nijmeijer et al., 2019) (Figure 2). Despite treatments currently available, there is no vaccine for HCV (). When left untreated, HCV can lead to liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C infection, leading to liver carcinoma (). Progression of HCV is rather slow and can remain unnoticed (asymptomatic) for decades until the patient develops liver disease, which results in delay in diagnosis and treatment ().

FIGURE 2

YFV infections occur in 12% individuals with a 95% confidence interval and in 5 to 26% individuals with manifestations of jaundice, hemorrhage, and organ failure (Waggoneret al., 2018). Mosquitoes are primary carriers in areas of endemicity and are mainly recorded in Africa and South America, and despite successful vaccinations, outbreaks continue and lead to significant high morbidity and mortality rates (). Julander et al. stated that despite vaccinations, there is a great need for more therapies as there is no antiviral agent available for YFV (2009).

Similar to all flaviviruses, ZIKV is another member, which is transmitted to humans by Aedes (Stegomyia subgenus) mosquitoes (), and the disease caused by ZIKV can range from mild to severe, with a 3–12-day incubation period (; Musso and Gubler, 2016). Basarab et al. stated that ZIKV symptoms can include fever, conjunctivitis, arthralgia, myalgia, and itchy rashes (Musso and Gubler, 2016; Musso and Nhan, 2015; ). However, Basarab et al. claimed that symptoms also include headache, retro-orbital pain, peripheral edema, joint pain, and even gastrointestinal disturbances (2016).

Overall, flaviviruses are small positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that harbor structural proteins such as the capsid (C), which is responsible for protecting the viral genome; the pre-membrane protein (prM); the envelope protein (E); and non-structural (NS) proteins that are categorized as NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, 2K, NA4B, and NS5 (Mutebi et al., 2004) with a genome of approximately 11 kb (). During viral entry, replication occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, where ribosomes are present (Figure 3). Because the genome of these viruses can act as a messenger RNA (mRNA), the genome is readily translated into proteins, making more virus particles (van den Elsen et al., 2021). Viral attachment is accomplished by the E protein attachment to the cognate receptors (). Laureti et al. conferred that the E protein binds to receptors such as glycosaminoglycans that increase the viral density on the host cell surface, allowing for more effective receptor binding (2018; Perera-Lecoin et al., 2013). On the surface of the E protein, the ectodomain harbors three domains, namely, E-D1, E-2, and E-D3, where E-D3 interacts with attachment factors and receptors and is mainly the target of neutralizing antibodies (; Pierson Kielian, 2013).

FIGURE 3

BVDV is a causative agent of bovine diarrhea and mucosal disease and hemorrhagic syndrome with high mortality among cattle (). The virion size ranges between 40 and 60 nm (), and the genome is approximately 13.3 kb in size (Murrayet al., 2008). The viral proteins of BVDV are organized in the following order: NH2-Npro-C-Erns-E1-E2-p7-NS2- NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B-COOH (Tellinghuisen et al., 2006; Neill, 2013; ; ), which is very similar to that of flavivirus polyprotein.

Transmission of BVDV among cattle includes fomites, such as contaminated feed, water, and equipment, and among other surfaces such as the nose; tongue; milk bottle nipples; needles; palpitations; secretions; and excretion of urine feces, mucus, milk, and other contaminated materials (Niskanen et al., 2000) (Figure 4). When cattle are exposed, they usually recover over time and shed the virus temporarily; however, pregnant cattle are more susceptible, and the outcome depends on the gestational stage of the fetus (. Although cows are the main host, BVDV infects various cattle, including bisons, and can cause immune dysfunction and result in asymptomatic infections and seroconversion, including fatal mucosal disease (Hause et al., 2021).

FIGURE 4

Diseases associated with BVDV can range from clinically inappropriate to severe, even with the availability of vaccines (Xue et al., 2009). Acute and persistent BVDV infections among pregnant cows are often accompanied by transmission into the fetuses, resulting in abortions, teratogenic changes, or delivery of persistently infected, immunotolerant calves, depending on the gestation period (). In the transmission process, if a cow is pregnant and is infected with the virus, the virus is transmitted to the fetus (). The virus has the ability to cause transplacental infection, resulting in different outcomes depending on the stage, which includes fetal death, malformation, acute syndromes of the neonate, immune tolerance, and lifelong viral persistence (Peterhans et al., 2003).

In the 90s, two small RNAs were discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans); it was later identified that the longer RNA, about 70 nucleotides, was the precursor of shorter RNAs that were about 22 nucleotides, which were classified as microRNAs (miRNAs) due to their short length (). miRNAs are small non-coding segments of RNAs that, unlike mRNAs, which encodes proteins, control various levels of important roles such as animal and human growth regulation, development, gene expression, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and even serves as an initiator for protein synthesis (; Ranganathan and Sivasankar, 2014; ; ). Most miRNAs are transcribed from DNA sequences into primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs), then processed into precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs), and then into mature miRNAs (; O'Brien et al., 2018).

There are three distinct types of miRNAs: small interference RNA (siRNA), RNA interferences (RNAi), and miRNAs (Qian et al., 2022). These molecules not only regulate gene expression or growth and development but can also suppress viral replication by targeting specific genes, resulting in inhibiting viral growth in its host. In the process of suppressing viral replication, mature miRNAs bind to complementary sequences on the 3′ end of the target mRNAs (Skalsky ans Cullen, 2010). Perfect complementarity miRNAs generally lead to potential cleavage of the mRNA genome, while imperfect complementarity results in repression and destabilization or degradation (Skalsky and Cullen, 2010; ; Selbach et al., 2008). In this study, we utilize advance bioinformatics tools to identify a possible complementary miRNA sequence to the nucleocapsid (NP) and/or capsid (CP) gene sequences of the flavivirus family.

Methods

Collection of Flavivirus genome sequences from NCBI

Complementary alignments were carried out using viral genome sequences that are responsible for the nucleocapsid and capsid protein synthesis of BVDV and all flaviviruses and were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database (Table 1). Figure 5 shows the flowchart of the computational analysis and multiple sequence alignments using miRBase, NCBI, and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool–nucleotides (BLAST-n).

TABLE 1

Virus nameAccession numberGene nameSequence
BVDVAJ715397.1NPTCCGACACAAAAGATAAAGGGGCGGTGAGAAAGGAGCAGCAAAAGCCAGATAGGTTGGAAAAGGGGAGAATGAAGATAACACCTAAAGAGTCAGAGAAAGACAGTAAGACCAGGCCACCAGATGCCACAATAGTGGTCGATGGAGTCAAATATCAGGTAAAGAAAAAAGGGAAAGTCAAGAGCAAGAACACCCAGGACGGCTTGTACCACAACAAAAATAAACCTCAAGAGTCTCGCAAGAAACTAGAGAAAGCCCTACTGGCCTGGGCAGTAATAGCCCTGGTTTTGTTTCAAGTC
HCV 1a Strain THCM-NR1/03 capsid protein geneGQ913857.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGAAAAACCAAACGTAACACCAACCGTCGCCCACAGGACGTTAAGTTCCCGGGTGGCGGTCAGATCGTTGGTGGAGTTTACTTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCTAGATTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACGAGGAAGACTTCCGAGCGGTCGCAACCTCGAGGTAGACGTCAGCCTATCCCCAAGGCGCGTCGGCCCGAGGGCAGGACCTGGGCTCAGCCCGGGTACCCTTGGCCCCTCTATGGCAATGAGGGCTGCGGGTGGGCGGGATGGCTCCTGTCCCCCCGTGGCTCTCGGCCTAGCTGGGGCCCCACAGACCCCCGGCGTAGGTCGCGCAATTTGGGTAAGGTCATCGATACCCTCACGTGCGGCTTCGCCGACCTCATGGGGTACATCCCGCTCGTCGGCGCCCCTCTTGGAGGCGCCGCCAGGGCCCTGGCGCATGGCGTCCGGGTTCTGGAAGACGGCGTGAACTATGCAACAGGGAACCTTCCTGGTTGCTCTTTTTCTATCTTCCTTCTAGCCCTGCTCTCTTGCCTGACTGTGCCCGCGTCAGCC
HCV Genotype 2 isolate MOR34JN055424.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGACAAACCAAAAGAAACACCAACCGCCGCCCAAAGGACGTTAAGTTCCCGGGCGGTGGTCAGATCGTTGGCGGGGTGTACTTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCTAGATTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACGAGGAAGACCTCGGAGCGATCCCAGCCGCGTGAAAGGCGCCAACCCATCCCCAGGGCTGGGCGCACCACCGGCAGGTCCTGGCAGCAGCCGGGATATCCTTGGCCCCTTTATGGGAACGA
HCV subtype 3a isolate THCM-L3/03HM042020.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACACTTCCTAAACCTCAAAGAAAAACCAAAAGAAACACCATCCGTCGCCCACAGGACGTCAAGTTCCCGGGTGGCGGACAGATCGTTGGTGGAGTATACGTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCACGATTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACGCGTAAAACTTCTGAACGGTCACAGCCTCGCGGACGACGACAGCCTATCCCCAAGGCACGTCGGAGCGAAGGCCGGTCCTGGGCTCAGCCTGGGTACCCTTGGCCCCTCTATGGTAACGAGGGCTGCGGGTGGGCAGGGTGGCTCCTGTCCCCACGCGGCTCCCGTCCATCTTGGGGCCCAAACGACCCCCGGCGACGGTCCCGCAATTTGGGTAAAGTCATCGATACCCTCACATGCGGATTCGCCGACCTCATGGGGTACATCCCGCTCGTCGGCGCTCCCGTAGGGGGCGTCGCAAGGGCCCTCGCACATGGCGTGAGGGCCCTTGAAGACGGGATAAATTTCGCAACAGGGAACTTGCCCGGTTGCTCCTTTTCTATCTTTCTTCTTGCTCTACTCTCTTGCTTAATCCATCCAGCAGCTAGC
HCV type 4 isolate QC27U33436.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGAAAAACCAAACATAACACCAACCGCCGCCCCATGGACGTCAAGTTCCCGGGTGGTGGTCAGATCGTTGGCGGAGTTTACTTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCTCGTTTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACTCGGAAGACTTCGGAGCGGTCGCAACCTCGTGGGAGACGCCAGCCTATCCCCAAGGCGCGTCGATCCGAGGGAAGGTCCTGGGCACAGCCAGGATACCCATGGCCTCTTTACGGTAATGAGGGTTGCGGGTGGGCAGGATGGCTCCTGTCCCCCCGTGGTTCTCGACCGTCTTGGGGTCCAAATGATCCCCGGCGGAGGTCCCGCAACTTGGGTAAGGTCATCGATACCCTAACCTGCGGCTTCGCCGACCTCATGGGATACATCCCGCTCGTGGGCGCCCCCGTTGGTGGCGTCGCCAGGGCCCTGGCACATGGTGTCAGGGCCGTGGAGGACGGGATTAATTACGCAACAGGGAACCTTCCCGGTTGCTCCTTTTCTATCTTCCTCCTAGCACTCTTTTCGTGCCTGACTGTCCCCGCTTCGGCC
HCV type 5 isolates QC21U33434.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGAAAAACCAAAAGAAACACCAACCGCCGCCCACAGGACGTCAAGTTCCCGGGCGGTGGTCAGATCGTTGGTGGAGTTTACTTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCTAGGTTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACTCGGAAGACTTCAGAACGGTCGCAACCCCGCGGACGGCGTCAGCCTATTCCCAAGGCGCGCCAATCCGCGGGCCGGTCCTGGGGTCAACCCGGGTACCCTTGGCCCCTTTATGGCAATGAGGGCCTCGGATGGGCAGGGTGGTTGCTCTCCCCCCGGGGTTCTCGGCCTAGTTGGGGCCCCAATGACCCCCGGCGAAAGTCACGTAATTTGGGTAAGGTCATCGATACCCTAACGTGCGGATTCGCCGACCTCATGGGGTATATCCCGCTCGTAGGCGGCCCCGTAGGGGGCGTCGCAAGGGCTCTCGCGCATGGTGTGAGGGTTCTTGAGGACGGGGTAAACTATGCGACAGGGAATTTGCCCGGTTGCTCTTTCTCTATCTTCCTCCTTGCACTTCTCTCGTGCTTGACTGTCCCGGCCTCTGCA
HCV type 6 isolate QC26U33435.1Capsid/core proteinATGAGCACACTTCCAAAACCCCAAAGAAAAACCAAAAGAAACACCAACCGTCGCCCAATGGACGTCAAGTTCCCGGGTGGCGGTCAGATCGTTGGCGGAGTTTACTTGTTGCCGCGCAGGGGCCCACGGTTGGGTGTGCGCGCGACGAGAAAGACTTCCGAGCGATCCCAGCCCAGAGGTAGGCGTCAACCTATACCAAAAGCACGCCAGCCTCAGGGCAGGCACTGGGCTCAGCCCGGATACCCTTGGCCTCTTTATGGAAACGAGGGCTGCGGGTGGGCGGGATGGCTCTTGTCCCCCCGCGGTTCCCGGCCACATTGGGGCCCCAATGACCCCCGGCGTCGATCCCGCAATTTGGGTAAGGTCATCGATACCCTAACGTGTGGATTCGCCGATCTCATGGGGTACATTCCCGTCGTGGGCGCGCCTCTAGGCGGCGTCGCGGCTGCGCTCGCACATGGTGTGAGGGCAATCGAGGACGGGATCAATTATGCAACAGGGAATCTTCCCGGTTGCTCTTTCTCTATCTTCCTTTTGGCACTATTCTCGTGCCTCACGACGCCAGCCTCGGCC
DENVKM519590.1Capsid proteinTTCTCAACCGGACTTTTTTCTGGGAAAGGACCCTTACGGATGGTGCTAGCATTCATCACGTTTTTGCGAGTCCTTTCCATCCCACCAACAGCAGGGATTCTGAAAAGATGGGGACAGTTGAAGAAAAATAAGGCCATCAGGATACTGATTGGATTCAGGAAGGAGATAGGCCGCATGCTGAACATCTTGAACGGGAGAAAAAGGTCAACGATAACATTGCTGTGCTTGATTCCCACCGTAATGGCGTTTCACTT
DENV 1KY346993.1Capsid proteinATGAACAACCAACGGAAAAAGACGGGTCGACCGTCTTTCAATATGCTGAAACGCGCGAGAAACCGCGTGTCAACTGGTTCACAGTTGGCGAAGAGATTCTCAAAAGGATTGCTTTCAGGCCAAGGACCCATGAAATTGGTGATGGCTTTCATAGCATTTCTAAGATTTCTAGCCATACCCCCAACAGCAGGAATTTTGGCTAGATGGAGCTCATTCAAGAAGAATGGAGCGATCAAAGTGTTACGGGGTTTCAAAAAAGAGATCTCAAGCATGTTGAACATAATGGATAGAAGGAAAAGA
DENV 2JQ846016.1Capsid proteinATGAATAACCAACGGAAAAAGGCGAAAAACACGCCTTTCAATATGCTGAAACGCGAGAGAAACCGCGTGTCGACTGTGCAACAGCTGACAAAGAGATTCTCACTTGGAATGCTGCAGGGACGAGGACCATTAAAACTGTTCATGGCCCTGGTGGCGTTCCTTCGTTTCCTAACAATCCCACCAACAGCAGGGATATTGAAGAGATGGGGAACAATTAAAAAATCAAAAGCTATTAATGTTTTGAGAGGGTTCAGGAAAGAGATTGGAAGGATGCTGAACATCTTGAATAGGAGACGCAGATCTGCAGGCATGATCATTATGCTGATTCCAACAGTGATGGCG
DENV 3HQ223036.1Capsid proteinATGAACAACCAACGAAAAAAGACGGGAAAACCGTATATCAATATGCTGAAACGCGTGAGAAACCCTGTGTCAACTGGATCACAGTTGGCGAAGAGATTCTCAAGAGGATTGCTCAACGGCCAAGGACCAATGAAATTGGTTATGGCGTTCATAGCTTTCAGATTTCTAGCCATTCCACCAACAGCAGGAGTCTTGGCTAGATGGGGAACCTTCAAGAAGTCAGGGGCTATTAAGGTCCTAAAAGGCTTCAAGAAGGAGATTTCAAACATGCTGAGTATTATCAACAAAAGGAAAAAGACATCGCTCTGTCTCATGATGATGTTACCAGCAACACTTGCT
DENV 4GQ890685.1Capsid proteinTTGGTGAAGAGATTCTCAACCGGACTTTTCTCTGGGAAAGGAACCTTACGGATGGTGCTAGCATTCATCACGTTTTTGCGAGTCCTTTCCATCCCGCCAACAGCAGGGATTTTGAAAAGATGGGGACAGTTGAAAAAGAATAAGGCCATCAAGATACTGATTGGATTCAGGAAGGAGATAGGTCGCATGTTAAACATCTTAAATAGGAGAAGAAGGTCAACAATGACATTGCTGTGTTTGATTCCCACCGTAATGGCATTTCACCTGTCAACAAGAGACGGCGAACCCCTCATGATAGTGGCAAAACACGAAAGGGGGAGACCTCTCTTGTTTAAGACAACAGAAGA
JENVKJ420596.1Capsid proteinATCAATATGCTGAAACGCGGCATACCCCGCGTATCCCCACTTGTGGGGGTGAAGAGGGTAATTATGAACTTGCTCGACGGCAGAGGGCCAATACGATTCGTTTTGGCTCTCTTGGCGTTTTTCAAGTTCACAGCACTAGCCCCGACCAAGGCACTCGTTAGCCGATGGAAGGCAGTAGAGAAGAGCGTTGCAATGAAACATCTCACCAGTTTCAAACGAGAACTTGG
YFVL06480.1Capsid proteinTCTGGTCGTAAAGCTCAGGGAAAAACCCTGGGCGTCAATATGGTACGACGAGGAGTTCGCTCCTTGTCAAACAAAATAAAACAAAAAACAAAACAAATTGGAAACAGACCTGGACCTTCAAGAGGTGTTCAAGGATTTATCTTTTTCTTTTTGTTCAACATTTTGACTGGAAAAAAGATCACAGCCCACCTAAAGAGGTTGTGGAAAATGCTGGACCCAAGACAAGGCTTGGCTGTTCTAAGGAAAGTTAAGAGAGTGGTGGCCAGTTTAATGAGAGGATTGTCCTCAAGGAAACGCCGTTCCCATGATGTTCTGACTGTGCAATTCCTAATTTTGGGAATGCTGTTGATGACGGGTGGA
WENVFJ425728.1Capsid proteinTAACAACAATTAACACAGTGCGAGCTGTTTCTTAGCACGAAGATCTCGATGTCTAAGAAACCAGGAGGGCCCGGTAAAAACCGGGCTGTCAATATGCTAAAACGCGGTATGCCCCGCGGATTGTCCTTGATAGGACTAAAGAGGGCTATGCTGAGTCTGATTGACGGGAAGGGCCCAATACGTTTCGTGTTGGCTCTTTTGGCGTTT
ZIKVKX443145.1Capsid proteinTGACAGTTCGAGTTTGAAGCGAAAGCTAGCAACAGTATCAACAGGTTTTATTTTGGATTTGGAAACGAGAGTTTCTGGTCATGAAAAACCCAAAAAAGAAATCCGGAGGATTCCGGATTGTCAATATGCTAAAACGCGGAGTAGCCCGTGTGAGCCCCTTTGGGGGCTTGAAGAGGCTGCCAGCCGGACTTCTGCTGGGTCATGGGCCCATCAGGATGGTCTTGGCGATTCTAGCCTTTTTGAGATTCACGGCAATCAAGCCATCACTGGGTCTCATCAATAGATGGGGTTCAGTGGGGAAAAAAGAGGCTATGGAAATAATAAAGAAGTTCAAGAAAGATCTGGCTGCCATACTGAGAATAATCAATGCTAGGAAGGAGAAGAAGAGACGAGGCGCAGATACTAGTGTCGGAATTGTTGGCCTCCTGCTGACCACAGCTATGGCAGCGGAGGTCACTAGACGTGGGAGTGCATACTATATGTACTTGGACAGAAACGATGCTGGGGAGGCCATATCTTTTCCAACCACATTGGGGATGAATAAGTGTTATATA
TBEVEU715176.1Capsid proteinAAATTTTATTACACGCCCAGGGGTTTGCTTCAGACACCAACAGGAGGGCCAGGTTCGGAAGAAACAATCTTTGGTTACTACTAGTCGTGAACGTGTTGAGAAAAAGACAGCTTAGGAGAACAAGAGCTGGGGATGGCCAGGAAGGCCATTCTGAAAGGAAAGGGGGGGGGTCCCCCTCGACAGGTGTCGAAAGGACCCAAAAAGC

Name of the virus genome, with the accession number, name of genome, and the sequence that were retrieved from the NCBI database.

FIGURE 5

Collection of miRNAs from miRBase and sequence alignments

Figures 8, 6 show the method of predicting the right miRNA sequence using miRBase (https://mirbase.org/) and NCBI BLAST–n) (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi) (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PROGRAM=blastn&PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&LINK_LOC=blasthome). For launching alignments, the miRNA sequences were entered in the Query section of BLAST and the viral mRNA sequence was entered in the Subject section.

FIGURE 6

Results

After running series of alignments, our results revealed that hsa-miR-548d-3p (MI0003668) showed complementary sequence structures with the viral genome sequences that are responsible for the nucleocapsid gene of the BVDV and flavivirus capsid protein synthesis. Table 2 shows the details about miR-548d-3p, which includes, name, species, accession number, tissues, sequence, and website. According to BLAST-n, hsa-miR-548d-3p exhibited 100% similarities and showed the highest numbers of alignment positions on the YFV capsid gene (7 locations), as compared to the BVDV NP gene and ZIKV CP gene (Figure 7; 5 locations), and 4 alignment positions on the WNV capsid gene. Figures 8A, B shows the number of alignment positions of hsa-miR-548d-3p on our virus' genome. Table 3 shows all alignment data exhibited by hsa-miR-548d-3p on viral genomes of DENV (Figures 9), HCV, and the other flavivirus members, and Figures 10–16 show the number alignment locations of hsa-miR-548d-3p on the flavivirus family's genome.

TABLE 2

Name of miRNASpeciesAccession #TissueSequenceWebsite
hsa-miR-548-3pHomo sapiens (Human)MIMAT0003323MelanoblastCAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGChttps://mirbase.org/mature/MIMAT0003323?mature_acc=MIMAT0003323

Details about the hsa-miR-548-3p sequence.

FIGURE 7

FIGURE 8

TABLE 3

Virus genomemiRNA name and sequence# Of matchesScoreE-ValueIdentitiesQuery locationSubject location
BVDV Nucleocapsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC514.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 11–18Subject 245–238
14.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 15–21Subject 14–8
14.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 16–22Subject 45–39
14.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 13–19Subject 165–159
14.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 3–9Subject 287–281
HCV Genotype 1a Capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC216.3 bits (8)0.118/8 (100%)Query 2–9Subject 27–34
14.4 bits (7)0.437/7 (100%)Query 13–19Subject 29–23
HCV Genotype 2 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC120.3 bits (10)0.00310/10 (100%)Query 12–21Subject 42–33
HCV Genotype 3 capsid proteinhas-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC0.43320.3 bits (10)0.00710/10 (100%)Query 12–21Subject 42–33
16.4 bits (8)0.118/8 (100%)Query 2–9Subject 27–34
14.4 bits (7)0.437/7 (100%)Query 13–19Subject 29–23
HCV Genotype 4 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC216.4 bits (8)0.118/8 (100%)Query 2–9Subject 27–34
14.4 bits (7)0.437/7 (100%)Query 13–9Subject 29–23
HCV Genotype 5 capsid Proteinhas-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC320.3 bits (10)0.00710/10 (100%)Query 12–21Subject 42–33
16.4 bits (8)0.118/8 (100%)Query 2–9Subject 27–34
14.4 bits (7)0.437/7 (100%)Query 13–19Subject 29–23
HCV Genotype 6 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC216.4 bits (8)0.118/8 (100%)Query 2–9Subject 27–34
14.4 bits (7)0.437/7 (100%)Query 13–19Subject 29–23
Dengue virus capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC114.4 bits (7)0.197/7 (100%)Query 1–7Subject 66–60
Dengue virus 1 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC114.4 bits (7)0.227/7 (100%)Query 8–14Subject 80–86
Dengue Virus 2 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC114.4 bits (7)0.257/7 (100%)Query 9–15Subject 139–133
Dengue Virus 3 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC114.4 bits (7)0.257/7 (100%)Query 8–14Subject 80–86
Dengue Virus 4 capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC214.4 bits (7)0.267/7 (100%)Query 1–7Subject 78–72
14.4 bits (7)0.267/7 (100%)Query 14–20Subject 140–134
Japanese encephalitis virus capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC114.4 bits (7)0.187/7 (100%)Query 10–16Subject 207–213
Yellow fever virus capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC716.4 bits (8)0.428/8 (100%)Query 13–20Subject 180–187
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 2–8Subject 57–63
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 3–9Subject 686–692
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 15–21Subject 757–751
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 12–18Subject 1729–1735
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 12–18Subject 2,298–2,292
14.4 bits (7)1.77/7 (100%)Query 1–7Subject 2,349–2,343
West Nile virus capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC414.4 bits (7)0.167/7 (100%)Query 12–18Subject 27–33
14.4 bits (7)0.167/7 (100%)Query 12–18Subject 61–55
14.4 bits (7)0.167/7 (100%)Query 2–8Subject 76–82
14.4 bits (7)0.167/7 (100%)Query 15–21Subject 195–201
Zika virus capsid proteinhsa-miR-548d-3p CAAAAACCACAGUUUCUUUUGC516.4 bits (8)0.108/8 (100%)Query 13–20Subject 101–94
14.4 bits (7)0.417/7 (100%)Query 11–17Subject 70–76
14.4 bits (7)0.417/7 (100%)Query 2–8Subject 84–90
14.4 bits (7)0.417/7 (100%)Query 6–12Subject 432–439
14.4 bits (7)0.417/7 (100%)Query 5–11Subject 524–530

All the alignment data on hsa-miR-548-3p to the capsid genome of all members of the flaviviruses retrieved from NCBI BLASTn, including the name of the genome and the name of the miRNA hsa-miR-548d-3p.

This Table also includes the number (#) of complementary matches between the miRNA and the viral mRNA genome sequence. The alignment score shows a significantly high score, which indicates a high degree of similar alignments between our miRNA sequence and our virus genome sequence. This table includes the E-value that measures the number of alignments similar found by hsa-miR-548d-3p by chance. The 100% of identity states that the similarity of our sequence alignments has a perfect match. These results included the query locations, which is the location on our miRNA alignment that has the perfect math, while the subject location, which is our mRNA alignment location on our viral genome sequence. On our subject, we see that our miRNA candidate aligns at multiple locations ranging from 14 to 2,349 locations.

FIGURE 9

FIGURE 10

FIGURE 11

FIGURE 12

FIGURE 13

FIGURE 14

FIGURE 15

FIGURE 16

hsa-miR-548d-3p aligned with dengue virus

Our results showed that the hsa-miR-548d-3p sequence is identical to the capsid sequence of dengue virus (DENV) and its four serotypes (Figures 9, 10; Table 1). We found that miR-548-3p has a 100% perfect match on DENV virus genome sequences, as displayed in Table 3. Figures 12A, B show that out of the four serotypes of DENV, 1 out of 5 (20%) showed 2 alignment locations and aligns at 2 nucleotides on the DENV 4 genome at subject locations 78–72 and 140–134.

hsa-miR-548d-3p alignment with HCV

The alignment analysis also revealed multiple sequence alignments between hsa-miR-548d-3p and the capsid sequence of the HCV virus and its genotypes. Figure 15 shows that out of the six genotypes of HCV, the highest number of alignment locations is observed between our miRNA and HCV genotype 3 and genotype 5 (33.33%) and the second highest number of locations is observed on genotype 1, genotype 4, and genotype 6 (50%).

hsa-miR-548d-3p aligned with Flavivirus capsid gene

Additional alignments were carried out, and it showcased that miR-548d-3p harbors sequence similarities with the capsid genome of the remaining Flavivirus members [ZIKV (Figure 7), YFV, WNV, and TBEV]. Figure 15 shows that our candidate miRNA shows similarities on various sections on the flavivirus capsid genome, and Figures 16A, B demonstrate that hsa-miR-548d-3p has the highest number of alignments on the YFV capsid genome (7 alignment locations), 4 alignment positions on the WNV capsid genome, and 5 alignment positions on the ZIKV capsid genome, depicted by this sequence alignment analysis.

Discussion

miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA segments, ranging up to 22 nt long, and serve as possible inhibiting regulators against viral mRNA expression during virus replication (). A perfect complementary sequence between miRNA and mRNA regions is believed to be sufficient for successful cleavage or degradation of the mRNA sequence, but imperfect alignments may block viral translation (; ). We studied the sequence homology of our miRNA sequence and the flavivirus genome sequences, and we found that after numerous sequence alignments, this study confirms the significant complementary sequence of our candidate miRNA sequence on the flavivirus capsid genome. After careful analysis, we have analyzed that hsa-miR-548d-3p showed identical alignment locations on the capsid gene of DENV 1, 3, and 4 viruses with some minor differences (Figure 11; Table 3). Figure 13 also confirms that hsa-miR-548d-3p also has identical alignment locations on the HCV virus and its genotypes. Hence, those miRNAs are used as antiviral therapeutics; these findings suggest that hsa-miR-548d-3p may be a possible candidate as a universal antiviral therapeutic agent against infections caused by the flavivirus family.

Alignment data of NCBI BLAST-n

To understand the idea of a good alignment between two sequences, it is necessary to understand the score, E-value (expected value), percentage of identity, and gaps. The bits score indicates how significant the alignment is; the higher the score on the alignment, the better. Observing the expected or, simply, the E-value indicates the significance of an alignment; the lower the E-value signifies, the better the alignment between two sequences. According to Tom Madden, if an alignment has an E-value of 0.05, then the similarities have a 5 in 100 possibility of occurring by chance (). The percentage (%) of identity signifies how perfect the alignment is between two sequences. Table 3 shows that all the alignments demonstrated are 7/7 or 8/8, which indicates two sequences are 100% similar. According to , the percentage of identity of 100% means that the nucleotides of the subject sequence are identical to the reference sequence or the query at every position of the alignment.

Using miRBase for the prediction of miRNA targets

Many bioinformatics tools were developed for biogenesis and to help biologists investigate miRNA biology. Among these tools, miRBase (https://mirbase.org/) is the most widely used software program (), which was developed in the year 2002 (). Later, the name changed from “the microRNA Registry” provided molecular researchers with stable and unique gene names for their novel miRNA discoveries and storages of miRNA sequences (). miRBase is a primary repository database for retrieving data on miRNA and has three main functions: 1) provides confidential services for independent assignment of miRNA genes, 2) sequences provide miRNA data, annotation, references, and links to other published miRNAs, and 3) provides miRNA target pipelines for the prediction of the target (; ). miRBase also allows searching published pre-miRNA and mature miRNA sequences, in addition to readily available annotation and sequence data that are available for download (). Overall, miRBase provides scientists a variety of data on miRNAs when obtaining sequences that include the accession number, symbols, description, and gene family.

Using miRBase and BLASTn

One of the important function of miRbase is to provide a microRNA target pipeline for the prediction of targets for all published animal miRNAs (; ), and all miRNA sequences from this database revealed interactions against 3′-untranslated regions, which are predicted from all available species ().

We used BLAST to perform alignments for its potential to detect similar regions within parts of long sequences. It is a fast, sensitive, and accurate tool for analyzing sequences for alignments (; ). The reason that miRBase does not run alignment analysis was BLAST was used when searching for the right miRNA sequences over 2,600 miRNAs. Additionally, BLAST was used because it is the most widely used software package in bioinformatics research due to its main function of comparing sequence(s) of interest (Stover and Cavalcanti, 2017).

Roles of hsa-miR-548d-3p in humans

hsa-miR-548d-3p is a mature miRNA that is found in primates and comprises over 69 identified miRNAs that are presented in all human chromosomes, but also as a more poorly conserved miRNA (Ramos-Sanchez et al., 2022), it demonstrates to enhance cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in breast cancer (Souza et al., 2016; Souza et al., 2021). Functions can include many biological processes, such as signaling pathways like MAPK, phosphatidylinositol (P13K), p53, B-cell receptor, T-cell receptor, TGF-beta, PPAR, calcium, and insulin signaling pathways, and in human tumorigenesis, such as colorectal cancer, glioma, and non-small cell lung cancer (Ramox-Sanchez, 2022; ). hsa-miR-548d-3p is proven to be involved in homeostasis of stress damage, and metabolic and survival pathways for cell proliferation (; ). In an experiment done by Rooda L. et al., their results indicated that hsa-miR-548d-3p and its family may play additional roles in humans, such as in ovarian follicle activation, development, granulosa cell differentiation, and proliferation (Rooda et al., 2021).

Bovine viral diarrhea virus as a model for flaviviruses

Prestiviruses are more closely related to HCV than the classical flaviviruses and have been used as surrogate models for HCV (Tellinghuisen et al., 2006; ) to test in vitro infectivity (). According to , as one of the most characterized members of the Flaviviridae family, BVDV serves as a good model system to study flaviviruses and has primarily been used as a surrogate model for HCV in identification and characterization of antiviral agents (). This approach leverages the similarities between BVDV and HCV to develop and test potential treatments for HCV more effectively. stated that both viruses BVDV and HCV utilize the IRES within the 5′ Untranslated Region (UTR) necessary for translation of viral polyprotein, while NS3 proteases of both viruses require NS4A as a cofactor for polyprotein processing.

Limitations

This was a pure computer-based study using bioinformatic tools to showcase possible miRNA–mRNA sequence similarities. Due to pestiviruses like the BVDV, which is used as a surrogate model for studying HCV virus, we hypothesized that if we can utilize the BVDV genome sequence as our test subject, then we could find a possible universal miRNA-based antiviral therapeutic for the family of flaviviruses. Based on our results and Table 3 and Figures 10–16, we found hsa-miR-548d-3p as a possible candidate due to its perfect match with the genome of all our viruses rather than just one. Again, this is a full bioinformatic-based analytical study, where in vivo lab equipment was not used. Hence, the results are not considered final until proved using in vivo experimentation.

Conclusion

After performing a series of sequence alignments, we predicted hsa-miR-548d-3p, a mature miRNA sequence, as a potential candidate to target flaviviruses showing perfect alignments with BVDV; HCV genotype 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; DENV serotype 1, 2, 3, and 4; JENV; WNV; ZIKA; and TBEV. Although more detailed in vitro and in vivo studies are required to utilize hsa-miR-548d-3p as an antiviral therapeutic, this study may be considered a first step to develop a new type of miRNA treatment against a range of viruses within the Flaviviridae family. This study also recognizes that the BVDV may not be the surrogate model for only HCV virus but can also prove to be a good model system for antiviral therapeutic studies against other members of the Flaviviridae family.

Statements

Data availability statement

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found in the article/supplementary material.

Author contributions

HC: writing–original draft and writing–review and editing. SH: writing–original draft and writing–review and editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors gratefully acknowledge the moral support from School of STEM, Diné College, and financial support from MS Biology Grant # NSF-TCUP-ICE-TI-2202023 (PI: Donald K. Robinson).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Summary

Keywords

Flavivirus, miRNA, BLAST, NCBI, alignments, antiviral

Citation

Cayatineto HW and Hakim ST (2025) hsa-miR-548d-3p: a potential microRNA to target nucleocapsid and/or capsid genes in multiple members of the Flaviviridae family . Front. Bioinform. 4:1487292. doi: 10.3389/fbinf.2024.1487292

Received

27 August 2024

Accepted

11 December 2024

Published

14 January 2025

Volume

4 - 2024

Edited by

Deepak Agarwal, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, India

Reviewed by

Nan Zheng, Nanjing University, China

Muhammad Aleem Ashraf, Emerson University Multan, Pakistan

Carolina Polonio, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: S. T. Hakim,

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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