Back to abstracts
Back to abstracts
ABSTRACT
Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global public health issue, despite vaccine
availability, with the highest impact in resource-limited settings where access to
healthcare, diagnostics, and antiviral therapies are limited. Current HBV therapy
does not completely eradicate HBV, highlighting the need for new therapeutic
interventions. This immune evasion occurs through interactions between viral and
host immune factors, such as MicroRNAs (miRNAs). This study identifies potential
human miRNA that shows similarity in sequence to HBV genotype A1
availability, with the highest impact in resource-limited settings where access to
healthcare, diagnostics, and antiviral therapies are limited. Current HBV therapy
does not completely eradicate HBV, highlighting the need for new therapeutic
interventions. This immune evasion occurs through interactions between viral and
host immune factors, such as MicroRNAs (miRNAs). This study identifies potential
human miRNA that shows similarity in sequence to HBV genotype A1
Method
Genotype A1 complete genome sequences were downloaded from NCBI database
and aligned using Clustal X. The miRbase online tool was used to predict the miRNA
with a short fragment of 25 overlapping nucleotides. The Starmir tool was used to
assess the hybridization potential of predicted and miRNAs that meet the
criteria—ΔG hybridization < -15, logistic probability ≥ 0.75, ΔG nucleation between -5
and -15, and total ΔG between -20 and -30—were considered as strong candidates.
and aligned using Clustal X. The miRbase online tool was used to predict the miRNA
with a short fragment of 25 overlapping nucleotides. The Starmir tool was used to
assess the hybridization potential of predicted and miRNAs that meet the
criteria—ΔG hybridization < -15, logistic probability ≥ 0.75, ΔG nucleation between -5
and -15, and total ΔG between -20 and -30—were considered as strong candidates.
Result
Results: A total of 121 miRNAs were predicted across the genotype A complete
genome, with pol gene having the highest number of binding sites and the X gene
the fewest. Out of these 15 mature miRNAs demonstrated high binding affinity
hybridization to 25 different sites in the pol gene. Several host-derived miRNAs,
including hsa-miR-4298 and hsa-miR-5196-5p bind to 5 different sites of the HBV
genome, while hsa-miR-675-5p binds to 4 different sites, suggesting strong
therapeutic potential.
genome, with pol gene having the highest number of binding sites and the X gene
the fewest. Out of these 15 mature miRNAs demonstrated high binding affinity
hybridization to 25 different sites in the pol gene. Several host-derived miRNAs,
including hsa-miR-4298 and hsa-miR-5196-5p bind to 5 different sites of the HBV
genome, while hsa-miR-675-5p binds to 4 different sites, suggesting strong
therapeutic potential.
Conclusion
Conclusion: This study reported possible miRNAs that showed high binding affinity
to the pol gene, and which present a potential future direction for the development of
RNA-based therapeutics. These approaches may offer low-cost and accessible
alternatives to current therapies, which are often inaccessible in low-resource
settings.
to the pol gene, and which present a potential future direction for the development of
RNA-based therapeutics. These approaches may offer low-cost and accessible
alternatives to current therapies, which are often inaccessible in low-resource
settings.