AUTHOR=Cai Wenjun , Pan Yuhong , Cheng Anchun , Wang Mingshu , Yin Zhongqiong , Jia Renyong 

TITLE=Regulatory Role of Host MicroRNAs in Flaviviruses Infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.869441

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.869441

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA that affect mRNA abundance or translation efficiency by binding to the 3’UTR of the mRNA of the target gene, thereby participating in multiple biological processes, including viral infection. Flavivirus genus consists of small, positive-stranded, single-stranded RNA viruses transmitted by arthropods, especially mosquitoes and ticks. The genus contains several globally significant human/animal pathogens, such as Dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus，West Nile virus, Zika virus, Yellow fever virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Tembusu virus. After flavivirus invades, the expression of host miRNA changes, exerting the immune escape mechanism to create an environment conducive to its survival, and the altered miRNA in turn affects the life cycle of the virus. Accumulated evidence suggests that host miRNAs influence flavivirus replication and host-virus interactions through direct binding of viral genomes or through virus-mediated host transcriptome changes. Understanding the interaction sites between miRNA and virus/host genes will help us to find targets for antiviral drugs and viral therapy. Herein, we summarize the regulatory role of cellular miRNAs during infection of flavivirus genus members, which may lead to the discovery of virus-specific regulatory mechanisms to prevent flavivirus infectivity.