Genome Wide Computational Prediction of miRNAs in Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus and their Targeted Genes in Human

RNAs are versatile biomolecules and can be coding or non-coding. Among the non-coding RNAs, miRNAs are small endogenous molecules that play important role in posttranscriptional gene regulation. miRNAs are identified in viruses too and involved in down regulation of host genes. Flavivirus family members are classified in to two groups: mosquito-borne flaviviruses (MBFV) and tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFV). Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) found in India in 1957 (Karnataka) relates to TBFV. Virus has been diffuse to new areas in India and needs attention as it can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Here in this study, we scanned the virus genome for prediction of miRNAs that can inhibit host target genes. VMir, tool was used for extraction of pre-miRNAs. A total of four miRNAs were found and submitted to ViralMir for classification in to real or pseudo. Interestingly, all four pre-miRNAs were classified as real. Eight mature miRNAs were located in pre-miRNAs by Mature Bayes. A total of 539 human target genes has been identified by using miRDB but ANGPT1 (angiopoietin 1) and TFRC (transferrin receptor) genes were screened to play role in hemorrhagic fever and neurological problems. GO analysis of target genes also supported the evidences.