Viral Noncoding RNAs in Modulating Cellular Defense and Their Potential for RNA Nanotechnology

Viruses are genetically and phenotypically diverse infectious agents providing profound selective pressure in the evolution of their host species with potential to significantly alter host population dynamics on global scale. Recognition of invading virus by sensing its genome, transcripts or replication intermediates plays a key role in the cell defense. Increasing experimental evidence has demonstrated that viral noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as micro RNAs and long ncRNAs are important players in virus counter-defense. Various viral ncRNAs subvert cellular defense in different ways and their combination embedded on one assembly could theoretically increase immunosuppressive effect. RNA motifs or RNA modifications involved in subverting cellular immunity can enrich the expanding field of RNA nanotechnology. Embedding such motifs in nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) would allow designing of assemblies with attenuated immunogenicity and enhanced stability for transfected or in vivo co-transcriptionally assembled NANPs.