Title:In Silico Approach to Predict the SARS-COV2 Derived Candidate MiRNAs as a Potential Antiviral Therapy
Volume: 16
Issue: 4
Author(s): Soudabeh Kavousipour, Shiva Mohammadi, Ebrahim Eftekhar, Sajad Jalili, Elham Arabizadeh, Pooneh Mokaram, Mahdi Barazesh*Seyed Hamid Moosavy*
Affiliation:
- School of Paramedical, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash,Iran
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas,Iran
Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2, microRNA precursor, In silico screening, target prediction, VMir software, drug target.
Abstract:
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease originating
from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Previous experimental
studies indicated that during viral infections, viral miRNAs (vmiRNAs) played key roles in
pathogen-host interaction, immune escape, host cell death, and tumorigenesis. MiRNAs are small,
single-stranded RNAs that exist in viruses as well as in animals. Thus, these molecules can play a
pivotal role in viral disease pathogenesis.
Objective: Since no approved drugs or vaccines currently exist for SARS-CoV-2 and its pathogenic
mechanism is unknown, the present study aimed to explore and propose vmiRNA platforms
as potential antiviral therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2. The development of antiviral drugs
to target vmiRNAs may result in the down-regulation of viral virulence genes expression and suppression
of viral proliferation.
Methods: In this study, to attain insight into the potential role of SARS-CoV-2-derived miRNAs in
viral infections, a set of computational methods was used to scan the SARS-CoV-2 genome, eventually
predicting 13 potential candidate vmiRNAs. Furthermore, the potential genes were predicted
in the human hosts that were the target of these candidate vmiRNAs by applying the mirPath software.
Results: This study proposed a theory indicating that the predicted vmiRNAs might have a plausible
role in altering human target gene expression, mainly contributing to a viral infectious state, inflammation,
and immune system escape. These vmiRNAs might have therapeutic trends as antiviral
agents against COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion: The findings offered a reference idea for a supplementary study on miRNA identification
as a drug target and revealed the necessity to increase the understanding of SARS-CoV-2
genome structure for a better combat against the virus.
