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Review
. 2025 Jan 12;52(1):115.
doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-10214-3.

Exploring the regulatory role of small RNAs in modulating host-pathogen interactions: implications for bacterial and viral infections

Rajesh Srinivasan  1 , Ramya Ramadoss  1 , Vanathy Kandasamy  2 , Pajanivel Ranganadin  3 , Siva Ranganathan Green  4 , Anand Kasirajan  1 , Agieshkumar Balakrishna Pillai  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Exploring the regulatory role of small RNAs in modulating host-pathogen interactions: implications for bacterial and viral infections

Rajesh Srinivasan et al. Mol Biol Rep. .

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs) have emerged as crucial players in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various cellular processes, including immunity and host defense against infections. In recent years, increasing evidence has highlighted their complex role in influencing the host response during viral and bacterial infections. miRNAs have been shown to play multiple roles in host-pathogen interaction like TLR activation and altered disease virulence during bacterial infections. In the context of viral infections, miRNAs are involved in regulating viral replication, pathogenesis, and immune evasion. Similarly, tiRNAs have recently emerged as novel players in bacterial and viral infections such as modulating bacterial growth, adaptation to stress conditions, host antiviral responses, and impacting viral replication and pathogenesis. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of miRNA expression profiles as diagnostic biomarkers to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. Further discusses the key pathways through which small RNAs regulate bacterial and viral infection-related diseases.

Keywords: Bacterial infection; Viral infection; miRNA; tiRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Informed consent: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable.

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