MicroRNAs in the interaction between host–bacterial pathogens: A new perspective

Abstract

Gene expression regulation plays a critical role in host-pathogen interactions, and RNAs function is essential in this process. miRNAs are small noncoding, endogenous RNA fragments that affect stability and/or translation of mRNAs, act as major posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. miRNA is involved in regulating many biological or pathological processes through targeting specific mRNAs, including development, differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycle, cytoskeleton organization, and autophagy. Deregulated microRNA expression is associated with many types of diseases, including cancers, immune disturbances, and infection. miRNAs are a vital section of the host immune response to bacterial-made infection. Bacterial pathogens suppress host miRNA expression for their benefit, promoting survival, replication, and persistence. The role played through miRNAs in interaction with host-bacterial pathogen has been extensively studied in the past 10 years, and knowledge about these staggering molecules' function can clarify the complicated and ambiguous interactions of the host-bacterial pathogen. Here, we review how pathogens prevent the host miRNA expression. We briefly discuss emerging themes in this field, including their role as biomarkers in identifying bacterial infections, as part of the gut microbiota, on host miRNA expression.

MicroRNAs: master regulators in host–parasitic protist interactions

“…For instance, in the host cells, miRNAs can favour the elimination of the pathogen [133,134], while in the parasites, they regulate different physiological processes such as developmental transition, sexual reproduction, expression of antigenic molecules, and virulence factors, promoting the parasites' subversion strategy and survival [134–137]. Thus, different pathogens induce a miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of genes involved in the inflammatory and immune responses [138], cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy and cytoskeleton reorganization [138,139]. Moreover, intracellular pathogens modulate their own and host miRNAs that participate in cellular processes relevant to pathogen replication and promotion of its life cycle [140].…”

The human-specific miR-6762-5p is an activator of RhoA GTPase enhancingShigella flexneriintercellular spreading

“…MiRNAs bind target mRNAs through partial complementarity and recruit molecular complexes inducing translational arrest, deadenylation, or degradation of the targeted mRNA. MiRNAs have been recognized for their role in the complex interplay between the host and bacterial pathogens (for review, Riahi Rad et al, 2021). In the context of Shigella infection, a microscopy-based high-throughput screening of a library of miRNA mimics has led to the identification of miRNAs regulating Shigella intra-cellular lifestyle (Sunkavalli et al, 2017; Aguilar et al, 2019).…”

Analysing the HERV-K env, np9, rec and gag expression in cervical tissues

“…With a notice of this distinguishing features, more than 8% of our genome comprise the HERV genome. There are three different important families of HERV, including class I [gammaretrovirus- and epsilonretrovirus-like], class II [betaretrovirus-like] and class III [spumaretrovirus-like] [ [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] ]. As the genome of this virus is intact, some subfamilies of HERV are able to synthetise retrovirus-like particles [ 14 ].…”