title: Cellular microRNA-miR-548g-3p modulates the replication of dengue virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been well recognized that microRNA plays a role in the host-pathogen interaction network. The significance of microRNA in the regulation of dengue virus (DENV) replication, however, remains unknown. The objective of our study was to determine the biological function of miR-548g-3p in modulating the replication of dengue virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we report that employment of a microRNA target search algorithm to analyze the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) consensus sequences of DENV (DENV serotypes 1-4) led to a discovery that miR-548g-3p directly targets the stem loop A promoter element within the 5'UTR, a region essential for DENV replication. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of miR-548g-3p under DENV infection. We performed overexpression and inhibition assays to test the role of miR-548g-3p on DENV replication. The protein and mRNA levels of interferon were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that overexpression of miR-548g-3p suppressed multiplication of DENV 1, 2, 3 and 4, and that miR-548g-3p was also found to interfere with DENV translation, thereby suppressing the expression of viral proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that miR-548g-3p directly regulates DENV replication and warrant further study to investigate the feasibility of microRNA-based anti-DENV approaches.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Weitao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Zhenjian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China.
authors.forename: Qinlong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Yiwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Cuiji
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Yangfan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Jiehao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Zhenxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Jueheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: zhuxun8@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules in Oceanic Microorganism (Sun Yat-sen University), Bureau of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: limf@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Mengfeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D003715:Dengue / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; C561887:MIRN548 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D007372:Interferons
keywords: Dengue virus; Viral replication; miR-548g-3p; microRNA