Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs of about 22 nucleotides, have been reported to regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and are involved in several biological processes such as immunity, development, metabolism, and host-pathogen interactions. Apart from miRNAs encoded by the host, miRNAs produced by pathogens also regulate host genes to facilitate virus replication and evasion of the host defense responses. In recent years, accumulated studies suggest that viral infections alter the host miRNAs expression profile, and both cellular and viral miRNAs may play vital roles in host-pathogen interactions. Bombyx mori, one of the critical lepidopteran model species, is an economically important insect for silk production. The mechanism of interaction between B. mori and its pathogens and their regulation by miRNAs has been extensively studied. Therefore, in this review, we aim to highlight the recent information and understanding of the virus-encoding miRNAs and their functions in modulating viral and host (B. mori) genes. Additionally, the response of B. mori derived miRNAs to viral infection is also discussed. A detailed critical view about miRNAs’ regulatory roles in B. mori-virus interactions will help us understand molecular networks and develop a sustainable antiviral strategy.
Highlights
The understanding of gene expression guided by regulatory RNA molecules is not limited to the past 20 years
The results indicated that cellular miRNA bantam in Sf9 cells plays an essential role in insect growth and baculovirus-insect interaction
Continuing genome-wide efforts in insect miRNA discovery and expression profiling have revealed that conserved and species-specific miRNAs may play important roles in insect biology. The role of these miRNAs in host-pathogen interactions has been reported by several publications, with the majority of researchers concentrating on the impact of infection on host miRNA profile
Summary
The understanding of gene expression guided by regulatory RNA molecules is not limited to the past 20 years. MicroRNA (MiRNA), small interfering RNAs (siRNA), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNA) are the three main classes of sRNAs that regulate gene expression (Farazi et al, 2008; Moazed, 2009; Czech and Hannon, 2011). These three classes are based on size and interaction with a particular protein class called the argonaute (Ago) protein family (Kim, 2008). MiRNAs are endogenous ∼22 nt RNAs that have an interaction with Ago-1 protein in insects
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