Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 MicroRNAs: An Update

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), an important human pathogen, is capable of latent infection in neurons and productive (lytic) infection in other tissue cells in vivo. Once infected with HSV-1, the immune system of the organism cannot eliminate the virus and carry it lifelong. HSV-1 possesses approximately 150 kb of double-stranded linear genomic DNA and can encode at least 70 proteins and 37 mature microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from 18 precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). Summary: These HSV-1-encoded miRNAs are widely involved in multiple processes in the life cycle of the virus and the host cell, including viral latent and lytic infection, as well as host immune signaling and proliferation. Key Message: In this review, we focused primarily on recent advances in HSV-1-encoded miRNA expression, function, and mechanism, which may provide new research ideas and feasible research methods systemically and comprehensively.