Analysis of changes in global miRNAs expression in chickens after CAstV infection
miRNAs represents ubiquitous regulators of gene expression and play an important pivotal regulatory role in the viral disease pathogenesis and virus-host interactions. Although previous studies have provided basic data for understanding the role of miRNAs in the molecular mechanisms of viral infection in birds, the role of miRNAs in regulation of host responses to chicken astrovirus (CAstV) infection in chickens is not yet understood. Consequently, there is a need to discover the molecular background behind the chicken's reaction upon virus entry and propagation. Specifically, what biological process/signalling pathways are activated or suppressed that facilitate CAstV infection. In our study we applied next generation sequencing to profile miRNA expression in CAstV-infected chickens and to decipher miRNA targeted specific signaling pathways engaged in potentially vital for virus infection biological processes.Ten 21-day-old SPF White Leghorn chickens were divided into two groups of 5 birds each. One group was inoculated with CAstV, and the other used as the negative control. At 4 days post infection, spleen samples were collected and immediately frozen for RNA isolation. We analyzed the isolated RNA, using small RNA-seq to identify differentially expressed miRNAs.