Effects of exosomal microRNAs on pseudorabies virus (PRV) replication
This project focuses on investigating the role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating pseudorabies virus (PRV) replication. PRV, an alphaherpesvirus, causes significant economic losses in the swine industry by inducing neurological, respiratory, and reproductive disorders in pigs. Exosomes serve as key mediators of intercellular communication by transporting functional molecules, including miRNAs derived from both the virus and host cells. Studies have revealed that PRV encodes a cluster of miRNAs (e.g., prv-miR-LLT11a) from the large latency transcript (LLT) region, which can be packaged into exosomes to modulate viral replication and host immune responses by targeting genes such as SLA-1 and TAP1 . Additionally, host miRNAs (e.g., miR-21) are dysregulated during PRV infection and further influence viral replication through mechanisms like suppressing CXCL10/IP-10 expression . This project will characterize exosomal miRNA profiles in PRV-infected porcine epithelial cells (PK-15) using high-throughput sequencing and functional assays (e.g., miRNA overexpression/inhibition) to elucidate how exosomal miRNAs coordinate viral lifecycle stages, immune evasion, and latency-reactivation cycles. The findings aim to provide insights into novel miRNA-based antiviral strategies against PRV.