SARS-CoV-2 Produces a MicroRNA CoV2-miR-O8 in Patients with COVID-19 Infection

Overview

Journal iScience

Publisher Cell Press

Date 2024 Jan 16

PMID 38226175

Authors

Elise J Tucker

Soon Wei Wong

Shashikanth Marri

Saira Ali

Anthony O Fedele

Michael Z Michael

Darling Rojas-Canales

Jordan Y Li

Chuan Kok Lim

Jonathan M Gleadle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Many viruses produce microRNAs (miRNAs), termed viral miRNAs (v-miRNAs), with the capacity to target host gene expression. Bioinformatic and cell culture studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can also generate v-miRNAs. This patient-based study defines the SARS-CoV-2 encoded small RNAs present in nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with COVID-19 infection using small RNA-seq. A specific conserved sequence (CoV2-miR-O8) is defined that is not expressed in other coronaviruses but is preserved in all SARS-CoV-2 variants. CoV2-miR-O8 is highly represented in nasopharyngeal samples from patients with COVID-19 infection, is detected by RT-PCR assays in patients, has features consistent with Dicer and Drosha generation as well as interaction with Argonaute and targets specific human microRNAs.

Citing Articles

Reduced Presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA-like Small RNA in the Serum of Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Stincarelli M, Abbate I, Matusali G, Tanturli M, Camici M, Arvia R Microorganisms. 2025; 13(1).

PMID: 39858894 PMC: 11767842. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13010126.

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