JE-Virus research by BHU-scientists
JE-Virus research by BHU-scientists
Varanasi: A group of researchers led by Prof. Sunit Kumar Singh, Head-Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University has reported that Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) suppresses the host immune response and replicates inside the microglial cells. The study has been published in an International Scientific Journal “BBA – Gene Regulatory Mechanisms” in September.
The Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the leading causes of viral encephalitis. It causes severe inflammation in brain by killing the neurons and activating the microglial cells. The JEV is spread by the Culex mosquitoes. Symptoms of JEV infection range from mild-to severe like fever, headache, nausea. In severe conditions, it may lead to encephalitis, coma, tremors or convulsions and often lead to death. Children and old age people are more prone to JEV infection. In India, Assam, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand are the endemic regions.
JE-Virus research by BHU-scientists
The pro-inflammatory responses help in clearing the infection from the body, alerting the other immune-related cells to protect and warn from the invading pathogens. The researchers reported that a small molecule, microRNA-155 suppress the pellino 1 (PELI1) protein and inhibits the pro-inflammatory responses which helps in JEV immune evasion and viral replication. They have also demonstrated that by using the inhibitors against micoRNA-155, the host immune response can be restored to normal and JEV replication is suppressed. Therefore, this mechanism can be exploited for the development of microRNA-based drugs against JEV infection.
