FAU researchers have found the first experimental evidence of HIV-1 generating circular RNAs. CircRNAs have previously been found in large DNA viruses like herpesviruses but not in HIV, which is an RNA virus. CircRNAs are more stable than straight RNA molecules and able to soak up microRNAs. The team identified at least 15 distinct HIV-1 circRNAs.
“When HIV infects the body, certain immune cells called CD4+ T cells respond by increasing levels of two microRNAs – miR-6727-3p and miR-4722-3p – that likely help fight the virus,” says Massimo Caputi. “But HIV seems to fight back by producing circRNAs that trap these microRNAs. This weakens the immune response and helps the virus make more copies of itself.”
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