Figure 1

Expression and biological function of miRNAs encoded by three RNA viruses. Two retroviruses and one flavivirus, HIV, BLV, and WNV, respectively, have been shown to encode functional miRNAs within their genomes. The identified viral miRNAs have been shown to elicit varied responses including increased cell survival and viral replication, as well as inhibiting viral transcriptional, thereby inducing latency. Additionally, the biosynthesis of the miRNAs from each virus has been shown to occur through diverse mechanisms of action, each of which diverges from the canonical host miRNA maturation process.