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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353631

Research Project: Intervention Strategies to Control Endemic and New and Emerging Viral Diseases of Swine

Location: Virus and Prion Research

Title: Porcine mRNA and sncRNA expression intersections during viral infection

Author
item FLEMING, DAMARIUS - Orise Fellow
item Miller, Laura

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2018
Publication Date: 5/31/2018
Citation: Fleming, D.S., Miller, L.C. 2018. Porcine mRNA and sncRNA expression intersections during viral infection. International Animal Biotechnology Symposium, Cheongju, South Korea. Abstract. p. 3.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is an RNA molecule that is not translated into a protein. Noncoding RNAs belong to several groups and have regulatory roles in cellular processes. Abundant and functionally important types of non-coding RNAs include transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), as well as small RNAs such as microRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, snoRNAs, snRNAs, exRNAs, scaRNAs and the long ncRNAs such as Xist and HOTAIR. Many of the newly identified ncRNAs have not been validated for their function. Because these small ncRNA are so important to fundamental biologic processes and contribute significantly to certain pathophysiologic states, they may therefore be attractive new targets for veterinary therapeutics. For decades, researchers have been exploring the many complications to swine health caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) in order to find ways to reduce losses in commercial pig populations. This is one of the few studies to examine the different classes of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA) expressed in the host during PRRSV infection. The study examined the expression profile of lesser characterized sncRNAs, such as snoRNAs and scaRNAs, in order to identify and quantify the classes of sncRNA expressed in whole blood between healthy and highly pathogenic PRRSV-infected pigs. The study presents data on the change in the number classes over the course of several time points. The results from this study will provide researchers with: (1) information on the most abundant classes of sncRNA, (2) how these classes change over time, and (3) the difference based host state. Overall, the results will serve to bring researchers closer to elucidating how gene function in the pig can become dysregulated due to PRRSV by presenting a new class of molecules that can be identified and interrogated during infection.