Of Insects and Viruses: The Role of Small RNAs in Insect Defence

Nicolas Vodovar (1) , Maria-Carla P Saleh (1)

1 Virus et Interférence ARN

In the past decade, small RNA pathways have been identified as a major mechanism of gene regulation. From an immunity standpoint, these pathways play a central role either by regulating immune reactions or by acting as immune effectors. In insects, several studies have unravelled the role of RNA interference (RNAi) as an antiviral response and have uncovered a complex relationship between insects and viruses that co-evolve in an ongoing race for supremacy. In this review, we comment on the role of small RNA pathways in insect defence and the exploitation of these same pathways by pathogens. We illustrate the host–pathogen relationship under RNAi constraints using several examples and we discuss future directions in using RNAi as a tool to control insect immunity.

Keywords: Innate immunity; Arthropods; RNA interference; small RNAs; Antiviral immunity; Arboviruses

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Immunology; Innate immunity; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Genetics

Nicolas Vodovar, Maria-Carla P Saleh. Of Insects and Viruses: The Role of Small RNAs in Insect Defence. Advances in Insect Physiology, 42, Elsevier, pp.1-36, 2012, 978-0-12-387680-5. ⟨10.1016/B978-0-12-387680-5.00001-X⟩. ⟨pasteur-02089877⟩