The hidden RNA code: implications of the RNA epitranscriptome in the context of viral infections

Diana Roberta Ribeiro; Alexandre Nunes; Daniela Ribeiro; Ana Raquel Soares

doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1245683

The hidden RNA code: implications of the RNA epitranscriptome in the context of viral infections

Front Genet. 2023 Aug 1:14:1245683. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1245683. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Diana Roberta Ribeiro¹, Alexandre Nunes¹, Daniela Ribeiro¹, Ana Raquel Soares¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medical Sciences, iBiMED-Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.

Abstract

Emerging evidence highlights the multifaceted roles of the RNA epitranscriptome during viral infections. By modulating the modification landscape of viral and host RNAs, viruses enhance their propagation and elude host surveillance mechanisms. Here, we discuss how specific RNA modifications, in either host or viral RNA molecules, impact the virus-life cycle and host antiviral responses, highlighting the potential of targeting the RNA epitranscriptome for novel antiviral therapies.

Keywords: RNA epitranscriptome; coding-RNAs; host antiviral response; non-coding RNAs; virus-host cell interactions.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), POCH, FEDER, and COMPETE2020, through the grants SFRH/BD/146703/2019 (DRR), UI/BD/151372/2021 (AN), UIDB/04501/2020 (iBiMED), under the scope of the Operational Program “Competitiveness and internationalization”, in its FEDER/FNR component, and by Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020. It was furthermore supported by the European Union thought the Horizon 2020 program: H2020-WIDESPREAD-2020-5 ID-952373. DR and ARS are supported by individual CEEC auxiliary research contracts CEECIND/03747/2017 and CEECIND/00284/2018, respectively.