Naslov
''Transcriptome analysis as a powerful tool for studying viral immune evasion strategy''

Autori
Stipan Jonjić

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, pp prezentacija, znanstveni

Skup
HAZU symposium Applied genomics in the Republic of Croatia

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 17.05.2016

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
HCMV; MCMV; MAT; M116; RNA-seq

Sažetak
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important human pathogen responsible for devastating congenital disease and organ transplant failure in immunologically immature or suppressed patients. The investigation of HCMV pathogenesis has been hindered by its strict species specificity. Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) has been extensively used to study HCMV pathogenesis and immunity. One of the distinguishing features of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) is the presence of a vast array of immunoevasive genes encoded by the viral genome that counter every aspect of the host's immune system. Although a significant number of viral immune evasion genes and mechanisms have already been detected and characterized using reverse genetics approaches, recent advances in RNA sequencing technology enabled us to discover novel viral genes and gene products that interact with the immune system of the host. Among numerous novel spliced and unspliced MCMV transcripts, our analysis revealed that the most highly transcribed viral transcripts are novel and of unknown function. Among these, MAT (Most Abundant Transcript) and M116 apparently encode functions involved in the regulation of the host’s immune system. MAT, for example, dominates the MCMV transcriptome, possesses a non-coding function as miRNA sponge and encodes at least one protein involved in the NK cell recognition of infected cells. M116, on the other hand, encodes a protein required for efficient infection of macrophages. These results not only demonstrate that the coding capacity of MCMV has been underestimated but also clearly show the usefulness of RNA-Seq in investigations of MCMV immune evasion strategies.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

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