The discovery that viruses could encode micro (mi)RNAs, similarly to the eukaryotic organisms they infect, has opened new perspectives in the study of host-virus interactions. These small regulatory RNAs, which are critically involved in an ever-increasing number of biological processes, have revolutionized the way we used to see gene regulation. Some mammalian viruses, mainly from the herpesvirus and polyomavirus families, have hijacked this mechanism in order to help them achieve the infection of their host ... read more

Further reading:

• RNA Interference and Viruses: Current Innovations and Future Trends
• RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression: A Hidden Layer of Complexity

Labels: herpesvirus, Host-virus interactions, microRNAs, miRNAs, Polyomavirus