hsa-miR-548d-3p: a potential microRNA to target nucleocapsid and/or capsid genes in multiple members of the Flaviviridae family.

Introduction: Flaviviridae comprise a group of enveloped, positive-stranded RNA viruses that are mainly transmitted through either mosquitoes or tick bites and/or contaminated blood, blood products, or other body secretions. These viruses cause diseases ranging from mild to severe and are considered important human pathogens. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding molecules involved in growth, development, cell proliferation, protein synthesis, apoptosis, and pathogenesis. These small molecules are even being used as gene suppressors in antiviral therapeutics, inhibiting viral replication. In the current study, we used bioinformatic tools to predict a possible miRNA sequence that could be complementary to the nucleocapsid (NP) and/or capsid (CP) gene of the Flaviviridae family and provide an inhibitory solution.

Methods: Bioinformatics is a field of science that includes tremendous computational analysis, logarithms, and sequence alignments. To predict the right alignments between miRNA and viral mRNA genomes, we used computational databases such as miRBase, NCBI, and Basic Alignment Search Tool-nucleotides (BLAST-n).

Results: Of the 2,600 mature miRNAs, hsa-miR-548d-3p revealed complementary sequences with the flavivirus capsid gene and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) capsid gene and was selected as a possible candidate to inhibit flaviviruses.

Conclusion: Although more detailed in vitro and in vivo studies are required to test the possible inhibitory effects of hsa-miR-548d-3p against flaviviruses, this computational study may be the first step to study further, developing a novel therapeutic for lethal viruses within the Flaviviridae family using suggested candidate miRNAs.