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Aghajani Mir M. Illuminating the pathogenic role of SARS-CoV-2: Insights into competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) regulatory networks. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 122:105613. [PMID: 38844190 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The appearance of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 triggered a significant economic and health crisis worldwide, with heterogeneous molecular mechanisms that contribute to its development are not yet fully understood. Although substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms behind SARS-CoV-2 infection and therapy, it continues to rank among the top three global causes of mortality due to infectious illnesses. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), being integral components across nearly all biological processes, demonstrate effective importance in viral pathogenesis. Regarding viral infections, ncRNAs have demonstrated their ability to modulate host reactions, viral replication, and host-pathogen interactions. However, the complex interactions of different types of ncRNAs in the progression of COVID-19 remains understudied. In recent years, a novel mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation known as "competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)" has been proposed. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and viral ncRNAs function as ceRNAs, influencing the expression of associated genes by sequestering shared microRNAs. Recent research on SARS-CoV-2 has revealed that disruptions in specific ceRNA regulatory networks (ceRNETs) contribute to the abnormal expression of key infection-related genes and the establishment of distinctive infection characteristics. These findings present new opportunities to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This progress paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of ceRNETs, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms involved. Further exploration of these mechanisms holds promise for enhancing our ability to prevent viral infections and develop effective antiviral treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Aghajani Mir
- Deputy of Research and Technology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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2
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Bermudez-Santana CI, Gallego-Gómez JC. Toward a Categorization of Virus-ncRNA Interactions in the World of RNA to Disentangle the Tiny Secrets of Dengue Virus. Viruses 2024; 16:804. [PMID: 38793685 PMCID: PMC11125801 DOI: 10.3390/v16050804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the function of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) as regulatory molecules of cell physiology has begun to be better understood. Advances in viral molecular biology have shown that host ncRNAs, cellular factors, and virus-derived ncRNAs and their interplay are strongly disturbed during viral infections. Nevertheless, the folding of RNA virus genomes has also been identified as a critical factor in regulating canonical and non-canonical functions. Due to the influence of host ncRNAs and the structure of RNA viral genomes, complex molecular and cellular processes in infections are modulated. We propose three main categories to organize the current information about RNA-RNA interactions in some well-known human viruses. The first category shows examples of host ncRNAs associated with the immune response triggered in viral infections. Even though miRNAs introduce a standpoint, they are briefly presented to keep researchers moving forward in uncovering other RNAs. The second category outlines interactions between virus-host ncRNAs, while the third describes how the structure of the RNA viral genome serves as a scaffold for processing virus-derived RNAs. Our grouping may provide a comprehensive framework to classify ncRNA-host-cell interactions for emerging viruses and diseases. In this sense, we introduced them to organize DENV-host-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Isabel Bermudez-Santana
- Computational and theoretical RNomics Group, Center of Excellence in Scientific Computing, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Juan Carlos Gallego-Gómez
- Grupo de Medicina de Traslación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
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3
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Bhat AA, Gupta G, Goyal A, Thapa R, Almalki WH, Kazmi I, Alzarea SI, Kukreti N, Sekar M, Meenakshi DU, Singh SK, MacLoughlin R, Dua K. Unwinding circular RNA's role in inflammatory pulmonary diseases. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:2567-2588. [PMID: 37917370 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02809-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression and cellular processes in various physiological and pathological conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in investigating the role of circRNAs in inflammatory lung diseases, owing to their potential to modulate inflammation-associated pathways and contribute to disease pathogenesis. Inflammatory lung diseases, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and COVID-19, pose significant global health challenges. The dysregulation of inflammatory responses demonstrates a pivotal function in advancing these diseases. CircRNAs have been identified as important players in regulating inflammation by functioning as miRNA sponges, engaging with RNA-binding proteins, and participating in intricate ceRNA networks. These interactions enable circRNAs to regulate the manifestation of key inflammatory genes and signaling pathways. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that specific circRNAs are differentially expressed in response to inflammatory stimuli and exhibit distinct patterns in various lung diseases. Their involvement in immune cell activation, cytokine production, and tissue remodeling processes underscores their possible capabilities as therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Harnessing the knowledge of circRNA-mediated regulation in inflammatory lung diseases could lead to the development of innovative strategies for disease management and intervention. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of circRNAs in inflammatory lung diseases, focusing on their regulatory mechanisms and functional implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Ahmad Bhat
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura 302017, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602105, India.
| | - Ahsas Goyal
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, 281406, India
| | - Riya Thapa
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura 302017, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India
| | - Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami I Alzarea
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neelima Kukreti
- School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Mahendran Sekar
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- Research and Development, Aerogen Limited, IDA Business Park, Galway, Connacht, H91 HE94, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Leinster, D02 YN77, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Leinster, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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4
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Koonin EV. Circular RNAs from linear viral RNA genomes: A distinct dimension in the virus world. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401335121. [PMID: 38349885 PMCID: PMC10895248 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401335121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20894
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5
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Cao QM, Boonchuen P, Chen TC, Lei S, Somboonwiwat K, Sarnow P. Virus-derived circular RNAs populate hepatitis C virus-infected cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313002121. [PMID: 38319965 PMCID: PMC10873615 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313002121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
It is known that pre-mRNAs in eukaryotic cells can be processed to circular RNAs by a backsplicing mechanism. Circular RNAs have great stability and can sequester proteins or small RNAs to exert functions on cellular pathways. Because viruses often exploit host pathways, we explored whether the RNA genome of the cytoplasmic hepatitis C virus is processed to yield virus-derived circRNAs (vcircRNAs). Computational analyses of RNA-seq experiments predicted that the viral RNA genome is fragmented to generate hundreds of vcircRNAs. More than a dozen of them were experimentally verified by rolling-circle amplification. VcircRNAs that contained the viral internal ribosome entry site were found to be translated into proteins that displayed proviral functions. Furthermore, two highly abundant, nontranslated vcircRNAs were shown to enhance viral RNA abundance. These findings argue that novel vcircRNA molecules modulate viral amplification in cells infected by a cytoplasmic RNA virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian M. Cao
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Pakpoom Boonchuen
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima30000, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok10330, Thailand
| | - Tzu-Chun Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Shaohua Lei
- Center of Excellence for Leukemia Studies, Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN38105
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN38105
| | - Kunlaya Somboonwiwat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok10330, Thailand
| | - Peter Sarnow
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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6
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Liu X, Xiong W, Ye M, Lu T, Yuan K, Chang S, Han Y, Wang Y, Lu L, Bao Y. Non-coding RNAs expression in SARS-CoV-2 infection: pathogenesis, clinical significance, and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:441. [PMID: 38057315 PMCID: PMC10700414 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01669-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been looming globally for three years, yet the diagnostic and treatment methods for COVID-19 are still undergoing extensive exploration, which holds paramount importance in mitigating future epidemics. Host non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) display aberrations in the context of COVID-19. Specifically, microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) exhibit a close association with viral infection and disease progression. In this comprehensive review, an overview was presented of the expression profiles of host ncRNAs following SARS-CoV-2 invasion and of the potential functions in COVID-19 development, encompassing viral invasion, replication, immune response, and multiorgan deficits which include respiratory system, cardiac system, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system as well as long COVID. Furthermore, we provide an overview of several promising host ncRNA biomarkers for diverse clinical scenarios related to COVID-19, such as stratification biomarkers, prognostic biomarkers, and predictive biomarkers for treatment response. In addition, we also discuss the therapeutic potential of ncRNAs for COVID-19, presenting ncRNA-based strategies to facilitate the development of novel treatments. Through an in-depth analysis of the interplay between ncRNA and COVID-19 combined with our bioinformatic analysis, we hope to offer valuable insights into the stratification, prognosis, and treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxing Liu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Wandi Xiong
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
| | - Maosen Ye
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, KIZ/CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650204, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Tangsheng Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Suhua Chang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Han
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yongxiang Wang
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-inspired Research, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250117, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lin Lu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 100191, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China.
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Yanping Bao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-inspired Research, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 250117, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- School of Public Health, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China.
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7
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Sberna G, Maggi F, Amendola A. Virus-Encoded Circular RNAs: Role and Significance in Viral Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16547. [PMID: 38003737 PMCID: PMC10671809 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been the focus of intense scientific research to understand their biogenesis, mechanisms of action and regulatory functions. CircRNAs are single stranded, covalently closed RNA molecules lacking the 5'-terminal cap and the 3'-terminal polyadenine chain, characteristics that make them very stable and resistant. Synthesised by both cells and viruses, in the past circRNAs were considered to have no precise function. Today, increasing evidence shows that circRNAs are ubiquitous, some of them are tissue- and cell-specific, and critical in multiple regulatory processes (i.e., infections, inflammation, oncogenesis, gene expression). Moreover, circRNAs are emerging as important biomarkers of viral infection and disease progression. In this review, we provided an updated overview of current understanding of virus-encoded and cellular-encoded circRNAs and their involvement in cellular pathways during viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessandra Amendola
- Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy; (G.S.)
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8
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Jahankhani K, Ahangari F, Adcock IM, Mortaz E. Possible cancer-causing capacity of COVID-19: Is SARS-CoV-2 an oncogenic agent? Biochimie 2023; 213:130-138. [PMID: 37230238 PMCID: PMC10202899 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has shown diverse life-threatening effects, most of which are considered short-term. In addition to its short-term effects, which has claimed many millions of lives since 2019, the long-term complications of this virus are still under investigation. Similar to many oncogenic viruses, it has been hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 employs various strategies to cause cancer in different organs. These include leveraging the renin angiotensin system, altering tumor suppressing pathways by means of its nonstructural proteins, and triggering inflammatory cascades by enhancing cytokine production in the form of a "cytokine storm" paving the way for the emergence of cancer stem cells in target organs. Since infection with SARS-CoV-2 occurs in several organs either directly or indirectly, it is expected that cancer stem cells may develop in multiple organs. Thus, we have reviewed the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the vulnerability and susceptibility of specific organs to cancer development. It is important to note that the cancer-related effects of SARS-CoV-2 proposed in this article are based on the ability of the virus and its proteins to cause cancer but that the long-term consequences of this infection will only be illustrated in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasra Jahankhani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ahangari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ian M Adcock
- Airways Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Immune Health Program at Hunter Medical Research Institute and the College of Health and Medicine at the University of Newcastle, Australia
| | - Esmaeil Mortaz
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Xiao C, Wang J, Yang S, Heng M, Su J, Xiao H, Song J, Li W. VISN: virus instance segmentation network for TEM images using deep attention transformer. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:bbad373. [PMID: 37903415 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of viruses from negative staining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images has mainly depended on experienced experts. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled virus recognition using deep learning techniques. However, most of the existing methods only perform virus classification or semantic segmentation, and few studies have addressed the challenge of virus instance segmentation in TEM images. In this paper, we focus on the instance segmentation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses and provide experts with more effective information about viruses. We propose an effective virus instance segmentation network based on the You Only Look At CoefficienTs backbone, which integrates the Swin Transformer, dense connections and the coordinate-spatial attention mechanism, to identify SARS-CoV-2, H1N1 influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Herpes simplex virus-1, Human adenovirus type 5 and Vaccinia virus. We also provide a public TEM virus dataset and conduct extensive comparative experiments. Our method achieves a mean average precision score of 83.8 and F1 score of 0.920, outperforming other state-of-the-art instance segmentation algorithms. The proposed automated method provides virologists with an effective approach for recognizing and identifying SARS-CoV-2 and assisting in the diagnosis of viruses. Our dataset and code are accessible at https://github.com/xiaochiHNU/Virus-Instance-Segmentation-Transformer-Network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Xiao
- State key laboratory of digital medical engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Laboratory of Microelectronic Devices & Integrated Technology, Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China
| | - Shenrong Yang
- State key laboratory of digital medical engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
| | - Minxin Heng
- State key laboratory of digital medical engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
| | - Junyi Su
- State key laboratory of digital medical engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, 570228, Haikou, China
| | - Hao Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Matter Microstructure and Function of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Low-dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan Normal University, 410081, Changsha, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Jingdong Song
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 102206, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Weifu Li
- College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
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Maarouf M, Wang L, Wang Y, Rai KR, Chen Y, Fang M, Chen JL. Functional Involvement of circRNAs in the Innate Immune Responses to Viral Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:1697. [PMID: 37632040 PMCID: PMC10458642 DOI: 10.3390/v15081697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective viral clearance requires fine-tuned immune responses to minimize undesirable inflammatory responses. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that are abundant and highly stable, formed by backsplicing pre-mRNAs, and expressed ubiquitously in eukaryotic cells, emerging as critical regulators of a plethora of signaling pathways. Recent progress in high-throughput sequencing has enabled a better understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological functions of circRNAs, overcoming the obstacle of the sequence overlap between circRNAs and their linear cognate mRNAs. Some viruses also encode circRNAs implicated in viral replication or disease progression. There is increasing evidence that viral infections dysregulate circRNA expression and that the altered expression of circRNAs is critical in regulating viral infection and replication. circRNAs were shown to regulate gene expression via microRNA and protein sponging or via encoding small polypeptides. Recent studies have also highlighted the potential role of circRNAs as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, RNA vaccines and antiviral therapy candidates due to their higher stability and lower immunogenicity. This review presents an up-to-date summary of the mechanistic involvement of circRNAs in innate immunity against viral infections, the current understanding of their regulatory roles, and the suggested applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Maarouf
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China;
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Lulu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- Fujian Province Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of the “Belt and Road”, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- Fujian Province Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of the “Belt and Road”, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Kul Raj Rai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- Fujian Province Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of the “Belt and Road”, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Department of Microbiology, ShiGan International College of Science and Technology/ShiGan Health Foundation, Narayangopal Chowk, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
| | - Yuhai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Min Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Ji-Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.M.); (L.W.); (Y.W.); (K.R.R.); (Y.C.)
- Fujian Province Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of the “Belt and Road”, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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11
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Gu A, Jaijyan DK, Yang S, Zeng M, Pei S, Zhu H. Functions of Circular RNA in Human Diseases and Illnesses. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:38. [PMID: 37489458 PMCID: PMC10366867 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent single-stranded RNA species that contain covalently closed 3' and 5' ends that provide them more stability than linear RNA, which has free ends. Emerging evidence indicates that circRNAs perform essential functions in many DNA viruses, including coronaviruses, Epstein-Barr viruses, cytomegalovirus, and Kaposi sarcoma viruses. Recent studies have confirmed that circRNAs are present in viruses, including DNA and RNA viruses, and play various important functions such as evading host immune response, disease pathogenesis, protein translation, miRNA sponges, regulating cell proliferation, and virus replication. Studies have confirmed that circRNAs can be biological signatures or pathological markers for autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, and cancers. However, our understanding of circRNAs in DNA and RNA viruses is still limited, and functional evaluation of viral and host circRNAs is essential to completely understand their biological functions. In the present review, we describe the metabolism and cellular roles of circRNA, including its roles in various diseases and viral and cellular circRNA functions. Circular RNAs are found to interact with RNA, proteins, and DNA, and thus can modulate cellular processes, including translation, transcription, splicing, and other functions. Circular RNAs interfere with various signaling pathways and take part in vital functions in various biological, physiological, cellular, and pathophysiological processes. We also summarize recent evidence demonstrating cellular and viral circRNA's roles in DNA and RNA viruses in this growing field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Gu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Shaomin Yang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518052, China
| | - Mulan Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Shaokai Pei
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, 225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 070101, USA
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12
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Ortega-del Campo S, Díaz-Martínez L, Moreno P, García-Rosado E, Alonso MC, Béjar J, Grande-Pérez A. The genetic variability and evolution of red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus quasispecies can be associated with its virulence. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1182695. [PMID: 37396376 PMCID: PMC10308047 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1182695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nervous necrosis virus, NNV, is a neurotropic virus that causes viral nervous necrosis disease in a wide range of fish species, including European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). NNV has a bisegmented (+) ssRNA genome consisting of RNA1, which encodes the RNA polymerase, and RNA2, encoding the capsid protein. The most prevalent NNV species in sea bass is red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), causing high mortality in larvae and juveniles. Reverse genetics studies have associated amino acid 270 of the RGNNV capsid protein with RGNNV virulence in sea bass. NNV infection generates quasispecies and reassortants able to adapt to various selective pressures, such as host immune response or switching between host species. To better understand the variability of RGNNV populations and their association with RGNNV virulence, sea bass specimens were infected with two RGNNV recombinant viruses, a wild-type, rDl956, highly virulent to sea bass, and a single-mutant virus, Mut270Dl965, less virulent to this host. Both viral genome segments were quantified in brain by RT-qPCR, and genetic variability of whole-genome quasispecies was studied by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Copies of RNA1 and RNA2 in brains of fish infected with the low virulent virus were 1,000-fold lower than those in brains of fish infected with the virulent virus. In addition, differences between the two experimental groups in the Ts/Tv ratio, recombination frequency and genetic heterogeneity of the mutant spectra in the RNA2 segment were found. These results show that the entire quasispecies of a bisegmented RNA virus changes as a consequence of a single point mutation in the consensus sequence of one of its segments. Sea bream (Sparus aurata) is an asymptomatic carrier for RGNNV, thus rDl965 is considered a low-virulence isolate in this species. To assess whether the quasispecies characteristics of rDl965 were conserved in another host showing different susceptibility, juvenile sea bream were infected with rDl965 and analyzed as above described. Interestingly, both viral load and genetic variability of rDl965 in seabream were similar to those of Mut270Dl965 in sea bass. This result suggests that the genetic variability and evolution of RGNNV mutant spectra may be associated with its virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Ortega-del Campo
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Luis Díaz-Martínez
- Centro de Supercomputación y Bioinnovación (SCBI), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Patricia Moreno
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul, IBYDA, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Esther García-Rosado
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul, IBYDA, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Alonso
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul, IBYDA, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Julia Béjar
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul, IBYDA, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ana Grande-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Málaga, Spain
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13
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Serge Chasseur A, Muylkens B, Coupeau D. [The circular life of viruses]. Med Sci (Paris) 2023; 39:344-350. [PMID: 37094267 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2023051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNA), as ancient as the first viruses, take an important part in the host-pathogen relationship. After the first description of dysregulated cellular circRNAs upon viral infection, numerous circRNAs of viral origin were identified and characterized. They are impacting both viral and cellular cycles and are associated with virus-induced oncogenesis, immune system regulation and cell differentiation. While the naïve reader might get swamped by discovering this new field of RNA biology, it seems that these RNA rings are actually full of surprises and wonders at both a functional and a biogenesis level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Serge Chasseur
- Virologie moléculaire, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (Narilis), Unité de recherche vétérinaire intégrée, université de Namur (UNamur), Namur, Belgique
| | - Benoît Muylkens
- Virologie moléculaire, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (Narilis), Unité de recherche vétérinaire intégrée, université de Namur (UNamur), Namur, Belgique
| | - Damien Coupeau
- Virologie moléculaire, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (Narilis), Unité de recherche vétérinaire intégrée, université de Namur (UNamur), Namur, Belgique
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14
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Wang W, Sun L, Huang MT, Quan Y, Jiang T, Miao Z, Zhang Q. Regulatory circular RNAs in viral diseases: applications in diagnosis and therapy. RNA Biol 2023; 20:847-858. [PMID: 37882652 PMCID: PMC10730172 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2272118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) forms closed loops via back-splicing in precursor mRNA, resisting exonuclease degradation. In higher eukaryotes, protein-coding genes create circRNAs through exon back-splicing. Unlike mRNAs, circRNAs possess unique production and structural traits, bestowing distinct cellular functions and biomedical potential. In this review, we explore the pivotal roles of viral circRNAs and associated RNA in various biological processes. Analysing the interactions between viral circRNA and host cellular machinery yields fresh insights into antiviral immunity, catalysing the development of potential therapeutics. Furthermore, circRNAs serve as enduring biomarkers in viral diseases due to their stable translation within specific tissues. Additionally, a deeper understanding of translational circRNA could expedite the establishment of circRNA-based expression platforms, meeting the rising demand for broad-spectrum viral vaccines. We also highlight the applications of circular RNA in biomarker studies as well as circRNA-based therapeutics. Prospectively, we expect a technological revolution in combating viral infections using circRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meng-Ting Huang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun Quan
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichao Miao
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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15
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Gao X, Fang D, Liang Y, Deng X, Chen N, Zeng M, Luo M. Circular RNAs as emerging regulators in COVID-19 pathogenesis and progression. Front Immunol 2022; 13:980231. [PMID: 36439162 PMCID: PMC9681929 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.980231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious acute respiratory disease caused by a newly emerging RNA virus, is a still-growing pandemic that has caused more than 6 million deaths globally and has seriously threatened the lives and health of people across the world. Currently, several drugs have been used in the clinical treatment of COVID-19, such as small molecules, neutralizing antibodies, and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, several vaccines have been used to prevent the spread of the pandemic, such as adenovirus vector vaccines, inactivated vaccines, recombinant subunit vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. However, the efficacy of vaccines and the onset of adverse reactions vary among individuals. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial regulators of viral infections and antiviral immune responses and are heavily involved in COVID-19 pathologies. During novel coronavirus infection, circRNAs not only directly affect the transcription process and interfere with viral replication but also indirectly regulate biological processes, including virus-host receptor binding and the immune response. Consequently, understanding the expression and function of circRNAs during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection will provide novel insights into the development of circRNA-based methods. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs that regulate the inflammatory response, viral replication, immune evasion, and cytokines induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the treatment of COVID-19 and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Fang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Liang
- College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Ni Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Min Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Mao Luo
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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16
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Goyal R, Gautam RK, Chopra H, Dubey AK, Singla RK, Rayan RA, Kamal MA. Comparative highlights on MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and NEO-CoV. EXCLI JOURNAL 2022; 21:1245-1272. [PMID: 36483910 PMCID: PMC9727256 DOI: 10.17179/excli2022-5355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV, now SARS-CoV-1), middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), Neo-CoV, and 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) are the most notable coronaviruses, infecting the number of people worldwide by targeting the respiratory system. All these viruses are of zoonotic origin, predominantly from bats which are one of the natural reservoir hosts for coronaviruses. Thus, the major goal of our review article is to compare and contrast the characteristics and attributes of these coronaviruses. The SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and COVID-19 have many viral similarities due to their classification, they are not genetically related. COVID-19 shares approximately 79 % of its genome with SARS-CoV-1 and about 50 % with MERS-CoV. The shared receptor protein, ACE2 exhibit the most striking genetic similarities between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV primarily replicates in the epithelial cells of the respiratory system, but it may also affect macrophages, monocytes, activated T cells, and dendritic cells. MERS-CoV not only infects and replicates inside the epithelial and immune cells, but it may lyse them too, which is one of the common reasons for MERS's higher mortality rate. The details of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and lytic replication mechanisms in host cells are currently mysterious. In this review article, we will discuss the comparative highlights of SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and Neo-CoV, concerning their structural features, morphological characteristics, sources of virus origin and their evolutionary transitions, infection mechanism, computational study approaches, pathogenesis and their severity towards several diseases, possible therapeutic approaches, and preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Goyal
- MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India,MM School of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur-Ambala, India
| | - Rupesh K. Gautam
- Department of Pharmacology, Indore Institute of Pharmacy, Rau, Indore, India-453331,*To whom correspondence should be addressed: Rupesh K. Gautam, Department of Pharmacology, Indore Institute of Pharmacy, IIST Campus, Opposite IIM Indore, Rau-Pithampur Road, Indore – 453331 (M.P.), India; Tel.: +91 9413654324, E-mail:
| | - Hitesh Chopra
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India-140401
| | | | - Rajeev K. Singla
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144411, India
| | - Rehab A. Rayan
- Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 5422031, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China,King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh,Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Hebersham NSW 2770; Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Australia
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17
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Liu L, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Shen J, Wu X, Li M, Chen M, Li X, Sun Y, Gu L, Li W, Wang F, Yao L, Zhang Z, Xiao Z, Du F. Therapeutic prospects of ceRNAs in COVID-19. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:998748. [PMID: 36204652 PMCID: PMC9530275 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.998748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the end of 2019, COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide, and the understanding of the new coronavirus is in a preliminary stage. Currently, immunotherapy, cell therapy, antiviral therapy, and Chinese herbal medicine have been applied in the clinical treatment of the new coronavirus; however, more efficient and safe drugs to control the progress of the new coronavirus are needed. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) may provide new therapeutic targets for novel coronavirus treatments. The first aim of this paper is to review research progress on COVID-19 in the respiratory, immune, digestive, circulatory, urinary, reproductive, and nervous systems. The second aim is to review the body systems and potential therapeutic targets of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs in patients with COVID-19. The current research on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) (lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA) in SARS-CoV-2 is summarized. Finally, we predict the possible therapeutic targets of four lncRNAs, MALAT1, NEAT1, TUG1, and GAS5, in COVID-19. Importantly, the role of PTEN gene in the ceRNA network predicted by lncRNA MALAT1 and lncRNA TUG1 may help in the discovery and clinical treatment of effective drugs for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Meijuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaobing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Li Gu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wanping Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lei Yao
- Experiment Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Zhang, ; Zhangang Xiao, ; Fukuan Du,
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Zhang, ; Zhangang Xiao, ; Fukuan Du,
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Luzhou, China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Zhang, ; Zhangang Xiao, ; Fukuan Du,
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18
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Eugenol Attenuates Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Via ROS-NRF2-ARE Signaling. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091838. [PMID: 36139913 PMCID: PMC9495523 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), a coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea due to oxidative stress in the piglet intestine, is a major cause of economic loss in the livestock industry. However, limited interventions have been shown to be effective in the treatment of TGEV. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic activity of eugenol in TGEV-induced intestinal oxidative stress and apoptosis. Our data show that eugenol supplementation protects intestine and IPEC-J2 cells from TGEV-induced damage. Mechanistically, eugenol reduces TGEV-induced oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells by reducing reactive oxygen species levels. Interestingly, eugenol also inhibits TGEV-induced intestinal cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggest that eugenol prevents TGEV-induced intestinal oxidative stress by reducing ROS-mediated damage to antioxidant signaling pathways. Therefore, eugenol may be a promising therapeutic strategy for TGEV infection.
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Rahmani-Kukia N, Abbasi A. New insights on circular RNAs and their potential applications as biomarkers, therapeutic agents, and preventive vaccines in viral infections: with a glance at SARS-CoV-2. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:705-717. [PMID: 35992045 PMCID: PMC9375856 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of viral infections and approaches to handling them are very challenging and require prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Recently, genomic medicine approaches have come up with the discovery of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) on the basis of gene silencing. CircRNAs, as a group of non-encoded RNAs, make a loop-like structure by back-splicing through 3′ and 5′ ends. They are stable, abundant, specific, and highly conserved and can be quickly generated at large scales in vitro. CircRNAs have the potential to contribute in several cellular processes in a way that some serve as microRNA sponges, cellular transporters, protein-binding RNAs, transcriptional regulators, and immune system modulators. CircRNAs can even play an important role in modulating antiviral immune responses. In the present review, circRNAs’ biogenesis, function, and biomarker and therapeutic potential as well as their prospective applications as vaccines against viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 are explained. By considering their unique properties, their potential to be used as novel vaccines, biomarkers, and a therapeutic approach appears possible.
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20
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Iqbal N, Kumar P. Integrated COVID-19 Predictor: Differential expression analysis to reveal potential biomarkers and prediction of coronavirus using RNA-Seq profile data. Comput Biol Med 2022; 147:105684. [PMID: 35687925 PMCID: PMC9162937 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Background The world has been battling the continuous COVID-19 pandemic spread by the SARS-CoV-2 virus for last two years. The issue of viral disease prediction is constantly a matter of interest in virology and the study of disease transmission over the long years. Objective In this study, we aimed to implement genome association studies using RNA-Seq of COVID-19 and reveal highly expressed gene biomarkers and prediction based on the machine learning model of COVID-19 analysis to combat this pandemic. Method We collected RNA-Seq gene count data for both healthy (Control) and non-healthy (Treated) COVID-19 cases. In this experiment, a sequence of bioinformatics strategies and statistical techniques, such as fold-change and adjusted p-value, were processed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We filtered biomarker sets of high DEGs, moderate DEGs, and low DEGs using DESeq2, Limma Trend, and Limma Voom methods based on intersection and union operations and applied machine learning techniques to predict COVID-19. Result Through experimental analysis, 67 potential biomarkers were extracted, comprising 49 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated genes, using statistical techniques and a set-theory consensus strategy. We trained the machine learning models on 12 different biomarker sets and found that the SVM model performed better than the other classifiers with 99.07% classification accuracy for moderate DEGs. Conclusion Our study revealed that identified differentially expressed genes of the moderate DEGs biomarker set, |log2FC| ≥ 2 with adjusted p-value < 0.05, work significantly as input features to implement a machine learning model using a kernel-based SVM technique to predict COVID-19.
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Yang S, Zhou H, Liu M, Jaijyan D, Cruz‐Cosme R, Ramasamy S, Subbian S, Liu D, Xu J, Niu X, Li Y, Xiao L, Tyagi S, Wang Q, Zhu H, Tang Q. SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV encode circular RNAs of spliceosome-independent origin. J Med Virol 2022; 94:3203-3222. [PMID: 35318674 PMCID: PMC9088628 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly recognized component of the transcriptome with critical roles in autoimmune diseases and viral pathogenesis. To address the importance of circRNA in RNA viral transcriptome, we systematically identified and characterized circRNAs encoded by the RNA genomes of betacoronaviruses using both bioinformatical and experimental approaches. We predicted 351, 224, and 2764 circRNAs derived from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, respectively. We experimentally identified 75 potential SARS-CoV-2 circRNAs from RNA samples extracted from SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells. A systematic comparison of viral and host circRNA features, including abundance, strand preference, length distribution, circular exon numbers, and breakpoint sequences, demonstrated that coronavirus-derived circRNAs had a spliceosome-independent origin. We further showed that back-splice junctions (BSJs) captured by inverse reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction have different level of resistance to RNase R. Through northern blotting with a BSJ-spanning probe targeting N gene, we identified three RNase R-resistant bands that represent SARS-CoV-2 circRNAs that are detected cytoplasmic by single-molecule and amplified fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. Lastly, analyses of 169 sequenced BSJs showed that both back-splice and forward-splice junctions were flanked by homologous and reverse complementary sequences, including but not limited to the canonical transcriptional regulatory sequences. Our findings highlight circRNAs as an important component of the coronavirus transcriptome, offer important evaluation of bioinformatic tools in the analysis of circRNAs from an RNA genome, and shed light on the mechanism of discontinuous RNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaomin Yang
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain MedicineShenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science CenterShenzhenChina
- Department of Microbiology, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of MicrobiologyHoward University College of MedicineWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Mingde Liu
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineThe Ohio State UniversityWoosterOhioUSA
| | - Dabbu Jaijyan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Ruth Cruz‐Cosme
- Department of MicrobiologyHoward University College of MedicineWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Santhamani Ramasamy
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Selvakumar Subbian
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Dongxiao Liu
- Department of MicrobiologyHoward University College of MedicineWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Jiayu Xu
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineThe Ohio State UniversityWoosterOhioUSA
| | - Xiaoyu Niu
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineThe Ohio State UniversityWoosterOhioUSA
| | - Yaolan Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of PharmacyJinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Lizu Xiao
- Department of Pain Medicine and Shenzhen Municipal Key Laboratory for Pain MedicineShenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Sanjay Tyagi
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Qiuhong Wang
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineThe Ohio State UniversityWoosterOhioUSA
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of MicrobiologyHoward University College of MedicineWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
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22
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Fava VM, Bourgey M, Nawarathna PM, Orlova M, Cassart P, Vinh DC, Cheng MP, Bourque G, Schurr E, Langlais D. A systems biology approach identifies candidate drugs to reduce mortality in severely ill patients with COVID-19. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm2510. [PMID: 35648852 PMCID: PMC9159580 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite the availability of highly efficacious vaccines, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lacks effective drug treatment, which results in a high rate of mortality. To address this therapeutic shortcoming, we applied a systems biology approach to the study of patients hospitalized with severe COVID. We show that, at the time of hospital admission, patients who were equivalent on the clinical ordinal scale displayed significant differential monocyte epigenetic and transcriptomic attributes between those who would survive and those who would succumb to COVID-19. We identified messenger RNA metabolism, RNA splicing, and interferon signaling pathways as key host responses overactivated by patients who would not survive. Those pathways are prime drug targets to reduce mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19, leading us to identify tacrolimus, zotatifin, and nintedanib as three strong candidates for treatment of severely ill patients at the time of hospital admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius M. Fava
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Bourgey
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Pubudu M. Nawarathna
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marianna Orlova
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Pauline Cassart
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Donald C. Vinh
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Medical Microbiology, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Matthew Pellan Cheng
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Medical Microbiology, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Erwin Schurr
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Corresponding author. (D.L.); (E.S.)
| | - David Langlais
- Department for Human Genetics, McGill University Genome Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Corresponding author. (D.L.); (E.S.)
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23
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Zhang Y, Zhu M, Zhang X, Dai K, Liang Z, Pan J, Zhang Z, Cao M, Xue R, Cao G, Hu X, Gong C. Micropeptide vsp21 translated by Reovirus circular RNA 000048 attenuates viral replication. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:1179-1187. [PMID: 35461859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To date, some DNA viruses and single-stranded RNA viruses have been found to generate circRNAs. However, the reports on circRNAs produced by double-stranded RNA viruses are very limited. In this study, Bombyx mori cypovirus (BmCPV), a typical double-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Reoviridae, was demonstrated to generate viral circRNAs (vcircRNAs) and a vcircRNA_000048 whose sequence corresponds with the region 164-1245 nt on the BmCPV genomic dsRNA S5 segment (GQ294468.1) was validated by PCR, Sanger sequencing, reverse transcription-rolling circle amplification, and Northern blotting. Furthermore, we verified that vcircRNA_000048 translates a micropeptide vsp21 with 21 amino acid residues in an IRES-dependent manner, and vsp21 attenuates the viral replication. These findings provided a novel clue to understanding the regulation of viral multiplication and interaction of reovirus with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshan Zhang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Min Zhu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kun Dai
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zi Liang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jun Pan
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ziyao Zhang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Manman Cao
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Renyu Xue
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guangli Cao
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaolong Hu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Chengliang Gong
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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Gu J, Su C, Huang F, Zhao Y, Li J. Past, Present and Future: The Relationship Between Circular RNA and Immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:894707. [PMID: 35693804 PMCID: PMC9174805 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.894707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system has evolved since the birth of humans. However, immune-related diseases have not yet been overcome due to the lack of expected indicators and targeting specificity of current medical technology, subjecting patients to very uncomfortable physical and mental experiences and high medical costs. Therefore, the requirements for treatments with higher specificity and indicative ability are raised. Fortunately, the discovery of and continuous research investigating circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a promising method among numerous methods. Although circRNAs wear regarded as metabolic wastes when discovered, as a type of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) with a ring structure and wide distribution range in the human body, circRNAs shine brilliantly in medical research by virtue of their special nature and structure-determined functions, such as high stability, wide distribution, high detection sensitivity, acceptable reproducibility and individual differences. Based on research investigating the role of circRNAs in immunity, we systematically discuss the hotspots of the roles of circRNAs in immune-related diseases, including expression profile analyses, potential biomarker research, ncRNA axis/network construction, impacts on phenotypes, therapeutic target seeking, maintenance of nucleic acid stability and protein binding research. In addition, we summarize the current situation of and problems associated with circRNAs in immune research, highlight the applications and prospects of circRNAs in the treatment of immune-related diseases, and provide new insight into future directions and new strategies for laboratory research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chongying Su
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuwei Zhao
- Chengdu Blood Center, Blood Research Laboratory, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Li, ; Yuwei Zhao,
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Li, ; Yuwei Zhao,
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25
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Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently rediscovered class of functional noncoding RNAs that are involved in gene regulation and cancer development. Next-generation sequencing approaches identified circRNA fragments and sequences underlying circularization events in virus-induced cancers. In the present study, we performed viral circRNA expression analysis and full-length sequencing in infections with Marek’s disease virus (MDV), which serves as a model for herpesvirus-induced tumorigenesis. We established inverse PCRs to identify and characterize circRNA expression from the repeat regions of the MDV genome during viral replication, latency, and reactivation. We identified a large variety of viral circRNAs through precise mapping of full-length circular transcripts and detected matching sequences with several viral genes. Hot spots of circRNA expression included the transcriptional unit of the major viral oncogene encoding the Meq protein and the latency-associated transcripts (LATs). Moreover, we performed genome-wide bioinformatic analyses to extract back-splice junctions from lymphoma-derived samples. Using this strategy, we found that circRNAs were abundantly expressed in vivo from the same key virulence genes. Strikingly, the observed back-splice junctions do not follow a unique canonical pattern, compatible with the U2-dependent splicing machinery. Numerous noncanonical junctions were observed in viral circRNA sequences characterized from in vitro and in vivo infections. Given the importance of the genes involved in the transcription of these circRNAs, our study contributes to our understanding and complexity of this deadly pathogen. IMPORTANCE Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were rediscovered in recent years both in physiological and pathological contexts, such as in cancer. Viral circRNAs are encoded by at least two human herpesviruses, the Epstein Barr virus and the Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, both associated with the development of lymphoma. Marek’s disease virus (MDV) is a well-established animal model to study virus-induced lymphoma but circRNA expression has not been reported for MDV yet. Our study provided the first evidence of viral circRNAs that were expressed at key steps of the MDV lifecycle using genome-wide analyses of circRNAs. These circRNAs were primarily found in transcriptional units that corresponded to the major MDV virulence factors. In addition, we established a bioinformatics pipeline that offers a new tool to identify circular RNAs in other herpesviruses. This study on the circRNAs provided important insights into major MDV virulence genes and herpesviruses-mediated gene dysregulation.
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Context-Dependent Regulation of Gene Expression by Non-Canonical Small RNAs. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8030029. [PMID: 35645336 PMCID: PMC9149963 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent functional genomics studies, a large number of non-coding RNAs have been identified. It has become increasingly apparent that noncoding RNAs are crucial players in a wide range of cellular and physiological functions. They have been shown to modulate gene expression on different levels, including transcription, post-transcriptional processing, and translation. This review aims to highlight the diverse mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression by small noncoding RNAs in different conditions and different types of human cells. For this purpose, various cellular functions of microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), snoRNA-derived small RNAs (sdRNAs) and tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) will be exemplified, with particular emphasis on the diversity of their occurrence and on the effects on gene expression in different stress conditions and diseased cell types. The synthesis and effect on gene expression of these noncoding RNAs varies in different cell types and may depend on environmental conditions such as different stresses. Moreover, noncoding RNAs play important roles in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and viral infections.
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Hassanin A, Rambaud O, Klein D. Genomic Bootstrap Barcodes and Their Application to Study the Evolution of Sarbecoviruses. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020440. [PMID: 35216033 PMCID: PMC8879460 DOI: 10.3390/v14020440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombination creates mosaic genomes containing regions with mixed ancestry, and the accumulation of such events over time can complicate greatly many aspects of evolutionary inference. Here, we developed a sliding window bootstrap (SWB) method to generate genomic bootstrap (GB) barcodes to highlight the regions supporting phylogenetic relationships. The method was applied to an alignment of 56 sarbecoviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the SARS epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. The SWB analyses were also used to construct a consensus tree showing the most reliable relationships and better interpret hidden phylogenetic signals. Our results revealed that most relationships were supported by just a few genomic regions and confirmed that three divergent lineages could be found in bats from Yunnan: SCoVrC, which groups SARS-CoV related coronaviruses from China; SCoV2rC, which includes SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses from Southeast Asia and Yunnan; and YunSar, which contains a few highly divergent viruses recently described in Yunnan. The GB barcodes showed evidence for ancient recombination between SCoV2rC and YunSar genomes, as well as more recent recombination events between SCoVrC and SCoV2rC genomes. The recombination and phylogeographic patterns suggest a strong host-dependent selection of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 appears as a mosaic genome composed of regions sharing recent ancestry with three bat SCoV2rCs from Yunnan (RmYN02, RpYN06, and RaTG13) or related to more ancient ancestors in bats from Yunnan and Southeast Asia. Finally, our results suggest that viral circular RNAs may be key molecules for the mechanism of recombination.
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Barbagallo D, Palermo CI, Barbagallo C, Battaglia R, Caponnetto A, Spina V, Ragusa M, Di Pietro C, Scalia G, Purrello M. Competing endogenous RNA network mediated by circ_3205 in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:75. [PMID: 35039944 PMCID: PMC8763136 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new member of the Betacoronaviridae family, responsible for the recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. To start exploring the molecular events that follow host cell infection, we queried VirusCircBase and identified a circular RNA (circRNA) predicted to be synthesized by SARS-CoV-2, circ_3205, which we used to probe: (i) a training cohort comprised of two pools of cells from three nasopharyngeal swabs of SARS-CoV-2 infected (positive) or uninfected (negative, UCs) individuals; (ii) a validation cohort made up of 12 positive and 3 negative samples. The expression of circRNAs, miRNAs and miRNA targets was assayed through real-time PCR. CircRNA-miRNA interactions were predicted by TarpMiR, Analysis of Common Targets for circular RNAs (ACT), and STarMir tools. Enrichment of the biological processes and the list of predicted miRNA targets were retrieved from DIANA miRPath v3.0. Our results showed that the predicted SARS-CoV-2 circ_3205 was expressed only in positive samples and its amount positively correlated with that of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) mRNA and the viral load (r values = 0.80952 and 0.84867, Spearman's correlation test, respectively). Human (hsa) miR-298 was predicted to interact with circ_3205 by all three predictive tools. KCNMB4 and PRKCE were predicted as hsa-miR-298 targets. Interestingly, the function of both is correlated with blood coagulation and immune response. KCNMB4 and PRKCE mRNAs were upregulated in positive samples as compared to UCs (6 and 8.1-fold, p values = 0.049 and 0.02, Student's t test, respectively) and their expression positively correlated with that of circ_3205 (r values = 0.6 and 0.25, Spearman's correlation test, respectively). We propose that our results convincingly suggest that circ_3205 is a circRNA synthesized by SARS-CoV-2 upon host cell infection and that it may behave as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sponging hsa-miR-298 and contributing to the upregulation of KCNMB4 and PRKCE mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Barbagallo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy.
| | - Concetta Ilenia Palermo
- U.O.C. Laboratory Analysis Unit, A.O.U. Policlinico‑Vittorio Emanuele, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Cristina Barbagallo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosalia Battaglia
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Angela Caponnetto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Vittoria Spina
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Ragusa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Cinzia Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Guido Scalia
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Microbiology, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Michele Purrello
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics Giovanni Sichel, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
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Saha C, Laha S, Chatterjee R, Bhattacharyya NP. Co-Regulation of Protein Coding Genes by Transcription Factor and Long Non-Coding RNA in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cells: An In Silico Analysis. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:74. [PMID: 34940755 PMCID: PMC8708613 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered expression of protein coding gene (PCG) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have been identified in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells and tissues from COVID-19 patients. The functional role and mechanism (s) of transcriptional regulation of deregulated genes in COVID-19 remain largely unknown. In the present communication, reanalyzing publicly available gene expression data, we observed that 66 lncRNA and 5491 PCG were deregulated in more than one experimental condition. Combining our earlier published results and using different publicly available resources, it was observed that 72 deregulated lncRNA interacted with 3228 genes/proteins. Many targets of deregulated lncRNA could also interact with SARS-CoV-2 coded proteins, modulated by IFN treatment and identified in CRISPR screening to modulate SARS-CoV-2 infection. The majority of the deregulated lncRNA and PCG were targets of at least one of the transcription factors (TFs), interferon responsive factors (IRFs), signal transducer, and activator of transcription (STATs), NFκB, MYC, and RELA/p65. Deregulated 1069 PCG was joint targets of lncRNA and TF. These joint targets are significantly enriched with pathways relevant for SARS-CoV-2 infection indicating that joint regulation of PCG could be one of the mechanisms for deregulation. Over all this manuscript showed possible involvement of lncRNA and mechanisms of deregulation of PCG in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Saha
- Department of Genome Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Kalyani, Nadia 741235, India;
| | - Sayantan Laha
- Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Kolkata 700108, India; (S.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Raghunath Chatterjee
- Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Kolkata 700108, India; (S.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Nitai P. Bhattacharyya
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Kolkata 700020, India
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Sajjad N, Wang S, Liu P, Chen JL, Chi X, Liu S, Ma S. Functional Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Interaction Between Host and Influenza A Virus. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:742984. [PMID: 34745043 PMCID: PMC8569443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.742984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are extensively expressed in various cells and tissues, and studies have shown that ncRNAs play significant roles in cell regulation. However, in the past few decades, the knowledge of ncRNAs has been increased dramatically due to their transcriptional ability and multiple regulatory functions. Typically, regulatory ncRNAs include long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), miRNAs, piRNAs, Y RNAs, vault RNAs, and circular RNAs (circRNAs), etc. Previous studies have revealed that various ncRNAs are involved in the host responses to virus infection and play critical roles in the regulation of host-virus interactions. In this review, we discuss the conceptual framework and biological regulations of ncRNAs to elucidate their functions in response to viral infection, especially influenza A virus (IAV) infection. In addition, we summarize the ncRNAs that are associated with innate immunity and involvement of interferons and their stimulated genes (ISGs) during IAV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelam Sajjad
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Song Wang
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ji-Long Chen
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojuan Chi
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shujie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening, Quantum Mechanics Calculations, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approaches Identified Potential Natural Antiviral Drug Candidates against MERS-CoV S1-NTD. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26164961. [PMID: 34443556 PMCID: PMC8401589 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a highly infectious zoonotic virus first reported into the human population in September 2012 on the Arabian Peninsula. The virus causes severe and often lethal respiratory illness in humans with an unusually high fatality rate. The N-terminal domain (NTD) of receptor-binding S1 subunit of coronavirus spike (S) proteins can recognize a variety of host protein and mediates entry into human host cells. Blocking the entry by targeting the S1-NTD of the virus can facilitate the development of effective antiviral drug candidates against the pathogen. Therefore, the study has been designed to identify effective antiviral drug candidates against the MERS-CoV by targeting S1-NTD. Initially, a structure-based pharmacophore model (SBPM) to the active site (AS) cavity of the S1-NTD has been generated, followed by pharmacophore-based virtual screening of 11,295 natural compounds. Hits generated through the pharmacophore-based virtual screening have re-ranked by molecular docking and further evaluated through the ADMET properties. The compounds with the best ADME and toxicity properties have been retrieved, and a quantum mechanical (QM) based density-functional theory (DFT) has been performed to optimize the geometry of the selected compounds. Three optimized natural compounds, namely Taiwanhomoflavone B (Amb23604132), 2,3-Dihydrohinokiflavone (Amb23604659), and Sophoricoside (Amb1153724), have exhibited substantial docking energy >-9.00 kcal/mol, where analysis of frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory found the low chemical reactivity correspondence to the bioactivity of the compounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirmed the stability of the selected natural compound to the binding site of the protein. Additionally, molecular mechanics generalized born surface area (MM/GBSA) predicted the good value of binding free energies (ΔG bind) of the compounds to the desired protein. Convincingly, all the results support the potentiality of the selected compounds as natural antiviral candidates against the MERS-CoV S1-NTD.
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Differential host circRNA expression profiles in human lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 93:104923. [PMID: 34004360 PMCID: PMC8123525 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging and highly pathogenic coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and might even lead to death. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new type of RNAs, are implicated in viral pathogenesis and host immune responses. However, their dynamic expression patterns and functions during SARS-CoV-2 infection remain to be unclear. We herein performed genome-wide dynamic analysis of circRNAs in human lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 at four time points. A total of 6118 circRNAs were identified at different genomic locations, including 5641 known and 477 novel circRNAs. Notably, a total of 42 circRNAs were significantly dysregulated, wherein 17 were up-regulated and 25 were down-regulated following infection at multiple phases. The gene ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the parental genes of circRNAs were mainly involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Further, the RNA binding protein (RBP) prediction analysis indicated that the dysregulated circRNAs could regulate mRNA stability, immunity, cell death by binding specific proteins. Additionally, the circRNA-miRNA-gene network analysis showed that circRNAs indirectly regulated gene expression by absorbing their targeted miRNAs. Collectively, these results shed light on the roles of circRNAs in virus-host interactions, facilitating future studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis.
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