Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulatory molecules involved in a broad range of cellular activities. Although the existence and functions of miRNAs are clearly defined and well established in eukaryotes, this is not always the case for those of viral origin. Indeed, the existence of viral mi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/9/5228 |
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| author | Idrissa Diallo Zeinab Husseini Sara Guellal Elodie Vion Jeffrey Ho Robert A. Kozak Gary P. Kobinger Patrick Provost |
| author_facet | Idrissa Diallo Zeinab Husseini Sara Guellal Elodie Vion Jeffrey Ho Robert A. Kozak Gary P. Kobinger Patrick Provost |
| author_sort | Idrissa Diallo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulatory molecules involved in a broad range of cellular activities. Although the existence and functions of miRNAs are clearly defined and well established in eukaryotes, this is not always the case for those of viral origin. Indeed, the existence of viral miRNAs is the subject of intense controversy, especially those of RNA viruses. Here, we characterized the miRNA transcriptome of cultured human liver cells infected or not with either of the two Ebola virus (EBOV) variants: Mayinga or Makona; or with Reston virus (RESTV). Bioinformatic analyses revealed the presence of two EBOV-encoded miRNAs, miR-MAY-251 and miR-MAK-403, originating from the EBOV Mayinga and Makona variants, respectively. From the miRDB database, miR-MAY-251 and miR-MAK-403 displayed on average more than 700 potential human host target candidates, 25% of which had a confidence score higher than 80%. By RT-qPCR and dual luciferase assays, we assessed the potential regulatory effect of these two EBOV miRNAs on selected host mRNA targets. Further analysis of Panther pathways unveiled that these two EBOV miRNAs, in addition to general regulatory functions, can potentially target genes involved in the hemorrhagic phenotype, regulation of viral replication and modulation of host immune defense. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:03:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a87e3c81daa40849fd43f535ae6302b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:03:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a87e3c81daa40849fd43f535ae6302b2023-11-23T08:28:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-05-01239522810.3390/ijms23095228Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected CellsIdrissa Diallo0Zeinab Husseini1Sara Guellal2Elodie Vion3Jeffrey Ho4Robert A. Kozak5Gary P. Kobinger6Patrick Provost7Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaSpecial Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3M9, CanadaGalveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USACentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center/CHUL Pavilion, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, CanadaMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulatory molecules involved in a broad range of cellular activities. Although the existence and functions of miRNAs are clearly defined and well established in eukaryotes, this is not always the case for those of viral origin. Indeed, the existence of viral miRNAs is the subject of intense controversy, especially those of RNA viruses. Here, we characterized the miRNA transcriptome of cultured human liver cells infected or not with either of the two Ebola virus (EBOV) variants: Mayinga or Makona; or with Reston virus (RESTV). Bioinformatic analyses revealed the presence of two EBOV-encoded miRNAs, miR-MAY-251 and miR-MAK-403, originating from the EBOV Mayinga and Makona variants, respectively. From the miRDB database, miR-MAY-251 and miR-MAK-403 displayed on average more than 700 potential human host target candidates, 25% of which had a confidence score higher than 80%. By RT-qPCR and dual luciferase assays, we assessed the potential regulatory effect of these two EBOV miRNAs on selected host mRNA targets. Further analysis of Panther pathways unveiled that these two EBOV miRNAs, in addition to general regulatory functions, can potentially target genes involved in the hemorrhagic phenotype, regulation of viral replication and modulation of host immune defense.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/9/5228RNA sequencingmicroRNAsEbola virusfilovirusesviral microRNA |
| spellingShingle | Idrissa Diallo Zeinab Husseini Sara Guellal Elodie Vion Jeffrey Ho Robert A. Kozak Gary P. Kobinger Patrick Provost Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells International Journal of Molecular Sciences RNA sequencing microRNAs Ebola virus filoviruses viral microRNA |
| title | Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells |
| title_full | Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells |
| title_fullStr | Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells |
| title_short | Ebola Virus Encodes Two microRNAs in Huh7-Infected Cells |
| title_sort | ebola virus encodes two micrornas in huh7 infected cells |
| topic | RNA sequencing microRNAs Ebola virus filoviruses viral microRNA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/9/5228 |
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