Virus-encoded miRNAs in Ebola virus disease

Abstract

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a negative-strand RNA virus that replicates in the cytoplasm and causes an often-fatal hemorrhagic fever. EBOV, like other viruses, can reportedly encode its own microRNAs (miRNAs) to subvert host immune defenses. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression by hybridizing to multiple mRNAs, and viral miRNAs can enhance viral replication and infectivity by regulating host or viral genes. To date, only one EBOV miRNA has been examined in human infection. Here, we assayed mouse, rhesus macaque, cynomolgus macaque, and human samples infected with three EBOV variants for twelve computationally predicted viral miRNAs using RT-qPCR. Ten miRNAs aligned to EBOV variants and were detectable in the four species during disease with several viral miRNAs showing presymptomatic amplification in animal models. miRNA abundances in both the mouse and nonhuman primate models mirrored the human cohort, with miR-1-5p, miR-1-3p, and miR-T3-3p consistently at the highest levels. These striking similarities in the most abundant miRNAs during infection with different EBOV variants and hosts indicate that these miRNAs are potential valuable diagnostic markers and key effectors of EBOV pathogenesis.

Roles of microRNAs in T cell immunity: Implications for strategy development against infectious diseases

“…As stated above, pathogen miRNAs have vital roles in the regulation of host immune response to tolerate pathogen survival (Section ) . For example, several viral miRNAs have been identified in herpesvirus, polyomavirus, ascovirus, filovirus, and adenovirus and some of these miRNAs can manipulate the viral and host gene expression . Analysis of the distribution of Ebola virus‐encoded miRNAs in four different species revealed that miR‐1‐5p abundance was predominant followed by miR‐T3‐3p and miR‐1‐3p .…”

“…Pathogens encoding miRNAs can regulate host mRNA for their proliferation, survival, and pathogenicity . As stated above, pathogen miRNAs have vital roles in the regulation of host immune response to tolerate pathogen survival (Section ) . For example, several viral miRNAs have been identified in herpesvirus, polyomavirus, ascovirus, filovirus, and adenovirus and some of these miRNAs can manipulate the viral and host gene expression .…”

“…For example, several viral miRNAs have been identified in herpesvirus, polyomavirus, ascovirus, filovirus, and adenovirus and some of these miRNAs can manipulate the viral and host gene expression . Analysis of the distribution of Ebola virus‐encoded miRNAs in four different species revealed that miR‐1‐5p abundance was predominant followed by miR‐T3‐3p and miR‐1‐3p . The enriched pathway analysis showed that these viral miRNAs regulate viral pathogenesis .…”

“…Analysis of the distribution of Ebola virus‐encoded miRNAs in four different species revealed that miR‐1‐5p abundance was predominant followed by miR‐T3‐3p and miR‐1‐3p . The enriched pathway analysis showed that these viral miRNAs regulate viral pathogenesis . Moreover, some viral miRNAs can also target key signaling proteins in the host, such as TGF‐β and GTP‐binding protein.…”

An overview of RNA virus-encoded microRNAs

“…BLV-miR-B4, which is one of BLV miRNAs, has same targets with miRNA miR-29 of the host [40]. It is illustrated that both bovine miR-29a and BLV-miR-B4 target two transcripts related to B-cell tumorigenesis induced [40,41] Bovine foamy virus BF2-3p miR-BF1-5p miR-BF1-3p miR-BF2-5p, miR- [43] Avian leukosis virus E (XSR) [45] West Nile virus KUN-miR-1 GATA4 Facilitates virus replication [48] Dengue virus DENV-vsRNA-5 NS1 Virus autoregulation [52] H5N1 influenza virus miR-HA-3p PCBP2 Contributing to 'cytokine storm' and mortality [54] Ebola virus miR-VP-3p EBOV-miR-1-5p EBOV-miR-1-3p EBOV-miR-2-3p [56][57][58] by miR-29 in mice, this discoveries put forward a potential mechanism that contributes to BLV-induced tumorigenesis.…”