title: Identification and differential expression analysis of MicroRNAs encoded by Tiger Frog Virus in cross-species infection in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tiger frog virus (TFV), dsDNA virus of the genus Ranavirus and family Iridoviridae, causes a high mortality of tiger frog tadpoles cultured in Southern China. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in many viruses especially DNA viruses such as Singapore Grouper Iridoviruses (SGIV). MicroRNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression for virus subsistence in host. Considering that TFV infects cells of different species under laboratory conditions, we aim to identify the specific and essential miRNAs expressed in ZF4 and HepG2 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified and predicted novel viral miRNAs in TFV-infected ZF4 and HepG2 cells by deep sequencing and software prediction. Then, we verified and described the expression patterns of TFV-encoded miRNAs by using qRT-PCR and Northern blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deep sequencing predicted 24 novel TFV-encoded miRNAs, and qRT-PCR verified 19 and 23 miRNAs in TFV-infected ZF4 (Group Z) and HepG2 (Group H) cells, respectively. Northern blot was performed to validate eight and five TFV-encoded miRNAs in Groups H and Z, respectively. We compared the expression of TFV-encoded miRNAs from two groups and defined TFV-miR-11 as the essential viral miRNA and TFV-miR-13 and TFV-miR-14 as the specific miRNAs that contribute to HepG2 cell infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified novel viral miRNAs and compared their expression in two host cells. The results of this study provide novel insights into the role of viral miRNAs in cross-species infection in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering/South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.|State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.
authors.forename: Ji-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.|Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275 PR China.
authors.forename: Yong-Shun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.|Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275 PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering/South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China. relike2004@sina.com.|State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China. relike2004@sina.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering/South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.|State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D019295:Computational Biology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017995:Ranavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Cross-species infection; Iridoviridae; MicroRNA; Tiger frog virus