The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs)
Climate change and globalization have raised the risk of vector-borne disease (VBD) introduction and spread in various European nations in recent years. In Italy, viruses carried by tropical vectors have been shown to cause viral encephalitis, one of the symptoms of arboviruses, a spectrum of viral...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/13/11051 |
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| author | Massimiliano Chetta Anna Lisa Cammarota Margot De Marco Nenad Bukvic Liberato Marzullo Alessandra Rosati |
| author_facet | Massimiliano Chetta Anna Lisa Cammarota Margot De Marco Nenad Bukvic Liberato Marzullo Alessandra Rosati |
| author_sort | Massimiliano Chetta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change and globalization have raised the risk of vector-borne disease (VBD) introduction and spread in various European nations in recent years. In Italy, viruses carried by tropical vectors have been shown to cause viral encephalitis, one of the symptoms of arboviruses, a spectrum of viral disorders spread by arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks. Arboviruses are currently causing alarm and attention, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has released recommendations to adopt essential measures, particularly during the hot season, to restrict the spreading of the infectious agents among breeding stocks. In this scenario, rapid analysis systems are required, because they can quickly provide information on potential virus–host interactions, the evolution of the infection, and the onset of disabling clinical symptoms, or serious illnesses. Such systems include bioinformatics approaches integrated with molecular evaluation. Viruses have co-evolved different strategies to transcribe their own genetic material, by changing the host’s transcriptional machinery, even in short periods of time. The introduction of genetic alterations, particularly in RNA viruses, results in a continuous adaptive fight against the host’s immune system. We propose an in silico pipeline method for performing a comprehensive motif analysis (including motif discovery) on entire genome sequences to uncover viral sequences that may interact with host RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by interrogating the database of known RNA binding proteins, which play important roles in RNA metabolism and biological processes. Indeed, viral RNA sequences, able to bind host RBPs, may compete with cellular RNAs, altering important metabolic processes. Our findings suggest that the proposed in silico approach could be a useful and promising tool to investigate the complex and multiform clinical manifestations of viral encephalitis, and possibly identify altered metabolic pathways as targets of pharmacological treatments and innovative therapeutic protocols. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:38:40Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:38:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff1d132506ba43a0a7a45569447ed3ff2023-11-18T16:47:25ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-07-0124131105110.3390/ijms241311051The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs)Massimiliano Chetta0Anna Lisa Cammarota1Margot De Marco2Nenad Bukvic3Liberato Marzullo4Alessandra Rosati5U.O.C. Medical and Laboratory Genetics, A.O.R.N., Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, ItalyMedical Genetics Section, University Hospital Consortium Corporation Polyclinics of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Schola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, ItalyClimate change and globalization have raised the risk of vector-borne disease (VBD) introduction and spread in various European nations in recent years. In Italy, viruses carried by tropical vectors have been shown to cause viral encephalitis, one of the symptoms of arboviruses, a spectrum of viral disorders spread by arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks. Arboviruses are currently causing alarm and attention, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has released recommendations to adopt essential measures, particularly during the hot season, to restrict the spreading of the infectious agents among breeding stocks. In this scenario, rapid analysis systems are required, because they can quickly provide information on potential virus–host interactions, the evolution of the infection, and the onset of disabling clinical symptoms, or serious illnesses. Such systems include bioinformatics approaches integrated with molecular evaluation. Viruses have co-evolved different strategies to transcribe their own genetic material, by changing the host’s transcriptional machinery, even in short periods of time. The introduction of genetic alterations, particularly in RNA viruses, results in a continuous adaptive fight against the host’s immune system. We propose an in silico pipeline method for performing a comprehensive motif analysis (including motif discovery) on entire genome sequences to uncover viral sequences that may interact with host RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by interrogating the database of known RNA binding proteins, which play important roles in RNA metabolism and biological processes. Indeed, viral RNA sequences, able to bind host RBPs, may compete with cellular RNAs, altering important metabolic processes. Our findings suggest that the proposed in silico approach could be a useful and promising tool to investigate the complex and multiform clinical manifestations of viral encephalitis, and possibly identify altered metabolic pathways as targets of pharmacological treatments and innovative therapeutic protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/13/11051bioinformatic analysisarbovirusesvector-borne disease (VBD)RNA binding proteins (RBPs) |
| spellingShingle | Massimiliano Chetta Anna Lisa Cammarota Margot De Marco Nenad Bukvic Liberato Marzullo Alessandra Rosati The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) International Journal of Molecular Sciences bioinformatic analysis arboviruses vector-borne disease (VBD) RNA binding proteins (RBPs) |
| title | The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) |
| title_full | The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) |
| title_fullStr | The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) |
| title_short | The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) |
| title_sort | continuous adaptive challenge played by arboviruses an in silico approach to identify a possible interplay between conserved viral rna sequences and host rna binding proteins rbps |
| topic | bioinformatic analysis arboviruses vector-borne disease (VBD) RNA binding proteins (RBPs) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/13/11051 |
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