title: Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication.
abstract: Small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate the outcome of virus infection. Here we explore the role of miRNAs in insect-virus interactions, in vivo, using the natural Drosophila melanogaster-Drosophila C virus (DCV) model system. Comparison of the miRNA expression profiles in DCV-infected and uninfected flies showed altered miRNA levels due to DCV infection, with the largest change in abundance observed for miR-956-3p. Knockout of miR-956 resulted to delayed DCV-induced mortality and decreased viral accumulation compared to wild-type flies. A screen of 84 putative miR-956-3p target genes identified regulation of Ectoderm-expressed 4 (Ect4) in miR-956 knockout flies and, separately, DCV infection. In Ect4 knockdown flies DCV-induced mortality occurred more quickly and virus accumulation was increased. Taken together, results suggest that the host-protective and antiviral consequences of miR-956 suppression during in vivo infection of D. melanogaster with its natural pathogen DCV is conferred through miR-956-3p induction of its target Ect4.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Verna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monsanto-Hearne
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Annabelle L Y
authors.initials: ALY
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Zhee Sheen
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Sassan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address: karynj@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karyn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D056629:Dicistroviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C574122:Ect4 protein, Drosophila; C000620756:MIRN956 microRNA, Drosophila; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins
keywords: Dicistroviridae; Drosophila; Drosophila C virus; Ect4; Host-virus interaction; Insect-virus interaction; miRNA