Use of miRNAs to Study Host Cell-Parasite Interactions

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a subclass of endogenous small noncoding RNAs that have been identified in both mammalian and nonmammalian cells. miRNAs are an essential part of the complex regulatory networks that control numerous biological processes and may play an important role in host defense and/or microbial offense during host-parasite interactions. Here, several methodologies to explore the role for miRNAs in host-parasite interactions are briefly summarized, including the detection, quantification, and intracellular localization of miRNAs, identification and validation of miRNA targets, and functional manipulation of specific miRNAs.

Keywords: Host defense; In situ hybridization; Luciferase reporter assay; Northern blot; PCR; Parasite; RNA interference; Western blot; miRNA; siRNA.