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MiRNA Encoded by Herpesviruses and Latent Infection
Yang Xuewei, Pan Dongli*
College of Medical, Zhejiang University, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Hangzhou 310058, China
Abstract: MicroRNA (miRNA) is noncoding RNA molecules ~22 nucleotides in length that can modulate a range of fundamental cellular processes through post transcriptional gene regulation. Viruses depend on the host cellular machinery for their propagation and survival. The host can eliminate the invading pathogen through the immune system. Conversely， viruses have developed various strategies to evade host immunity. Several viruses have been shown to use virally encoded miRNAs to reshape the cellular environment. Herpesviruses are a large family of double-stranded DNA viruses that can establish long-term， latent infections. miRNA is expressed by various members of the herpesvirus family. Increasing evidence suggests that viral miRNA plays a critical role in regulating the viral latency， as well as in attenuating potentially inhibitory host antiviral immune responses. Here we discuss the expression and functions of miRNA encoded by herpesviruses for further knowledge of latent infection and interaction between viruses and host.
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