Herpesviruses encode miRNAs that target both virus and host genes; however their role in herpesvirus biology is still poorly understood. We previously identified thirty five miRNAs encoded by OvHV-2; the causative agent of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and are investigating the role of these miRNAs in regulating expression of OvHV-2 genes that play important roles in virus biology. Analysis, using RNAHybrid predicted that two OvHV-2 encoded miRNAs, ovhv2-miR-17-10 and ovhv2-miR-61-1, target transcripts coding for the OvHV-2 bZIP protein Ov2. In other herpesvirus bZIP proteins are known to play important roles in lytic virus replication. Here we show by Flow cytometry and western blotting that ovhv2-miR-17-10 and ovhv2-miR-61-1, reduce the expression of Ov2 protein. The predicted target sites for both miRNAs within the Ov2 gene were disrupted whilst retaining the Ov2 coding sequence. Mutation of the ovhv2-miR-61-1 target sequence restored Ov2 protein expression levels to control levels confirming the identity of its target site. However, it was not possible to determine the binding site of ovhv2-miR-17-10 possibly due to potential G:U pairing introduced during the mutation process. The targeting of Ov2 by two virus-encoded miRNAs suggests an important regulatory role for Ov2 in OvHV-2 replication or reactivation.
Keywords: Ovine herpesvirus-2; Virus encoded miRNAs, Ov2.