MiRNA Targeted NP Genome of Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines Provide Cross-Protection against a Lethal Influenza Virus Infection

Downregulation of miR-1388 Regulates the Expression of Antiviral Genes via Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR)-Associated Factor 3 Targeting Following poly(I:C) Stimulation in Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved endogenous single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression to maintain normal physiological functions in fish. Nevertheless, the specific physiological role of miRNAs in lower vertebrates, particularly in comparison to mammals, remains elusive. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying the control of antiviral responses triggered by viral stimulation in fish are still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the regulatory impact of miR-1388 on the signaling pathway mediated by IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Our findings revealed that following stimulation with the viral analog poly(I:C), the expression of miR-1388 was significantly upregulated in primary immune tissues and macrophages. Through a dual luciferase reporter assay, we corroborated a direct targeting relationship between miR-1388 and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 3 (TRAF3). Furthermore, our study demonstrated a distinct negative post-transcriptional correlation between miR-1388 and TRAF3. We observed a significant negative post-transcriptional regulatory association between miR-1388 and the levels of antiviral genes following poly(I:C) stimulation. Utilizing reporter plasmids, we elucidated the role of miR-1388 in the antiviral signaling pathway activated by TRAF3. By intervening with siRNA-TRAF3, we validated that miR-1388 regulates the expression of antiviral genes and the production of type I interferons (IFN-Is) through its interaction with TRAF3. Collectively, our experiments highlight the regulatory influence of miR-1388 on the IRF3-mediated signaling pathway by targeting TRAF3 post poly(I:C) stimulation. These findings provide compelling evidence for enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms through which fish miRNAs participate in immune responses.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Among Saudi Children: Parental Barriers and Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children in the Makkah Region

INTRODUCTION

The influenza virus produces everything from seasonal epidemics to unexpected pandemics, making its prevention and management a worldwide public health challenge. The main method to prevent and control seasonal influenza is vaccination. Children responded quite successfully to influenza vaccinations, particularly live vaccines. Despite the strong recommendations and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccinations in children, some parents still hesitate and refuse to give their children the shot.

OBJECTIVE

This study, given the importance of knowing the factors that contribute to parents' refusal of influenza vaccine, also aims to assess parental barriers and willingness to vaccinate their children in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia.

METHODOLOGY

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among Saudi parents in the Makkah region. For data collection, an online survey was conducted between December 1, 2022, and February 11, 2023.

RESULTS

In total, 334 of the parents participated in our study. The result shows that there is a significant association between parents' gender and receiving the flu vaccine, with significantly more females (52.4%). Regarding the willingness to get the vaccine, the majority of the parents reported that they will get the vaccine and vaccinate their children, and the most common barrier that prevents parents from vaccinating their children is that they do not need it because they are healthy (21.48%). Furthermore, there is a strong relationship between educational level and knowledge about seasonal influenza vaccination; the majority of parents at each level of education have poor knowledge regarding influenza vaccines. In addition, nearly all of our participants (96.7%) believed the information provided by the Saudi Ministry of Health as well as the advice of their physicians.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the need to increase awareness, educate the parents in the Makkah region about the importance of the influenza vaccine, and encourage them to vaccinate their children.

RNA2Immune: A Database of Experimentally Supported Data Linking Non-coding RNA Regulation to The Immune System

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have emerged as important regulators of the immune system and are involved in the control of immune cell biology, disease pathogenesis, as well as vaccine responses. A repository of ncRNA-immune associations will facilitate our understanding of ncRNA-dependent mechanisms in the immune system and advance the development of therapeutics and prevention for immune disorders. Here, we describe a comprehensive database, RNA2Immune, which aims to provide a high-quality resource of experimentally supported database linking ncRNA regulatory mechanisms to immune cell function, immune disease, cancer immunology, and vaccines. The current version of RNA2Immune documents 50,433 immune-ncRNA associations in 42 host species, including (1) 6690 ncRNA associations with immune functions involving 31 immune cell types; (2) 38,672 ncRNA associations with 348 immune diseases; (3) 4833 ncRNA associations with cancer immunology; and (4) 238 ncRNA associations with vaccine responses involving 26 vaccine types targeting 22 diseases. RNA2Immune provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, searching, and downloading ncRNA-immune system associations. Collectively, RNA2Immune provides important information about how ncRNAs influence immune cell function, how dysregulation of these ncRNAs leads to pathological consequences (immune diseases and cancers), and how ncRNAs affect immune responses to vaccines. RNA2Immune is available at http://bio-bigdata.hrbmu.edu.cn/rna2immune/home.jsp.

AddaVax-Adjuvanted H5N8 Inactivated Vaccine Induces Robust Humoral Immune Response against Different Clades of H5 Viruses

Since some cases of human infections with H5N8 avian influenza virus have been reported and caused great concern in recent years, it is important to develop an effective vaccine for human use to prevent a potential H5N8 pandemic. In the present study, a vaccine candidate virus based on newly human-infected A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 H5N8 virus was constructed by reverse genetics (RG) technology. The immunogenicity of H5N8 whole virion inactivated vaccine was evaluated by various doses of vaccine antigen formulated with squalene-based adjuvant (AddaVax), aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) or without adjuvant in mice. The results showed AddaVax-adjuvanted H5N8 inactivated vaccine could stimulate the mice to produce a stronger protective immune response with higher titers of IgG antibodies, hemagglutination inhibition (HI), neuraminidase inhibition (NI) and microneutralization (MN) antibodies than vaccine formulations with Al(OH)₃ adjuvant or without adjuvant, and achieve a dose-sparing effect. Moreover, the AddaVax-adjuvanted formulation also exhibited potent cross-reactive response in HI antibodies against different clades of H5 viruses. A significant correlation and a curve fitting among HI, NI and MN were found by the correlation analysis to predict the protective effect of the vaccine. With these findings, our study demonstrates that AddaVax adjuvant can enhance the immunogenicity of H5N8 inactivated vaccine remarkably, and proposes an effective strategy for dealing with a potential H5N8 virus pandemic.

Host Non-Coding RNA Regulates Influenza A Virus Replication

Outbreaks of influenza, caused by the influenza A virus (IAV), occur almost every year in various regions worldwide, seriously endangering human health. Studies have shown that host non-coding RNA is an important regulator of host-virus interactions in the process of IAV infection. In this paper, we comprehensively analyzed the research progress on host non-coding RNAs with regard to the regulation of IAV replication. According to the regulation mode of host non-coding RNAs, the signal pathways involved, and the specific target genes, we found that a large number of host non-coding RNAs directly targeted the PB1 and PB2 proteins of IAV. Nonstructural protein 1 and other key genes regulate the replication of IAV and indirectly participate in the regulation of the retinoic acid-induced gene I-like receptor signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway, and other major intracellular viral response signaling pathways to regulate the replication of IAV. Based on the above findings, we mapped the regulatory network of host non-coding RNAs in the innate immune response to the influenza virus. These findings will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the function and mechanism of host non-coding RNAs in the cellular anti-virus response as well as clues to the mechanism of cell-virus interactions and the discovery of antiviral drug targets.

Functional Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Interaction Between Host and Influenza A Virus

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are extensively expressed in various cells and tissues, and studies have shown that ncRNAs play significant roles in cell regulation. However, in the past few decades, the knowledge of ncRNAs has been increased dramatically due to their transcriptional ability and multiple regulatory functions. Typically, regulatory ncRNAs include long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), miRNAs, piRNAs, Y RNAs, vault RNAs, and circular RNAs (circRNAs), etc. Previous studies have revealed that various ncRNAs are involved in the host responses to virus infection and play critical roles in the regulation of host-virus interactions. In this review, we discuss the conceptual framework and biological regulations of ncRNAs to elucidate their functions in response to viral infection, especially influenza A virus (IAV) infection. In addition, we summarize the ncRNAs that are associated with innate immunity and involvement of interferons and their stimulated genes (ISGs) during IAV infection.

Expression level of miRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma and its clinical significance

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression level of serum miRNA-192-5p and its clinical value in the diagnosis and care of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODS

Eighty-eight patients with MM admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to April 2020 were selected as the observation group. In addition, 70 patients who received osteoporosis testing in our hospital in the corresponding period but were excluded from having MM and haematological malignancy were selected as the control group. The relative expression level of serum miRNA-192-5p was detected. The expression level of serum miRNA and its correlation with patient-related clinical parameters were compared and analyzed. The ROC curve was used to analyze its diagnostic efficacy for MM.

RESULTS

The relative expression level of serum miRNA-192-5p in MM patients was remarkably lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the AUC area of serum miRNA-192-5p in patients with a diagnosis of MM was 0.853, with a cutoff value of 0.72, the sensitivity of 86.30%, and the specificity of 81.20%, P = 0.030. The relative expression level of miRNA-192-5p in the serum of patients with high β2-MG and creatinine levels was markedly reduced compared to that in patients with low β2-MG levels (P < 0.05); the relative expression level of miRNA-192-5p in the serum of patients with low hemoglobin and albumin levels was markedly reduced compared to that in patients with normal hemoglobin and albumin (P < 0.05); and there was significantly negative correlation between the relative expression level of miRNA-192-5p in the serum of MM patients and IgG and IgA levels, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

miRNA-192-5p may serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of MM. Furthermore, because there is certain correlation between serum miRNA-192-5p and MM progression and prognosis, it may be regarded as a novel marker for MM monitoring.

Immune Responses Elicited by Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines as Correlates of Universal Protection against Influenza Viruses

Influenza virus infection remains a major public health challenge, causing significant morbidity and mortality by annual epidemics and intermittent pandemics. Although current seasonal influenza vaccines provide efficient protection, antigenic changes of the viruses often significantly compromise the protection efficacy of vaccines, rendering most populations vulnerable to the viral infection. Considerable efforts have been made to develop a universal influenza vaccine (UIV) able to confer long-lasting and broad protection. Recent studies have characterized multiple immune correlates required for providing broad protection against influenza viruses, including neutralizing antibodies, non-neutralizing antibodies, antibody effector functions, T cell responses, and mucosal immunity. To induce broadly protective immune responses by vaccination, various strategies using live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) and novel vaccine platforms are under investigation. Despite superior cross-protection ability, very little attention has been paid to LAIVs for the development of UIV. This review focuses on immune responses induced by LAIVs, with special emphasis placed on the breadth and the potency of individual immune correlates. The promising prospect of LAIVs to serve as an attractive and reliable vaccine platforms for a UIV is also discussed. Several important issues that should be addressed with respect to the use of LAIVs as UIV are also reviewed.