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25 pages, 2992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Playing Peekaboo with a Master Manipulator: Metagenetic Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Wolbachia Supergroups in Freshwater Invertebrates

by Monika Mioduchowska, Edyta Konecka, Bartłomiej Gołdyn, Tom Pinceel, Luc Brendonck, Dunja Lukić, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Tadeusz Namiotko, Katarzyna Zając, Tadeusz Zając, Jan P. Jastrzębski and Krzysztof Bartoszek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9400; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119400 - 28 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1730

Abstract

The infamous “master manipulators”—intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia—infect a broad range of phylogenetically diverse invertebrate hosts in terrestrial ecosystems. Wolbachia has an important impact on the ecology and evolution of their host with documented effects including induced parthenogenesis, male killing, feminization, [...] Read more.

The infamous “master manipulators”—intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia—infect a broad range of phylogenetically diverse invertebrate hosts in terrestrial ecosystems. Wolbachia has an important impact on the ecology and evolution of their host with documented effects including induced parthenogenesis, male killing, feminization, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Nonetheless, data on Wolbachia infections in non-terrestrial invertebrates are scarce. Sampling bias and methodological limitations are some of the reasons limiting the detection of these bacteria in aquatic organisms. In this study, we present a new metagenetic method for detecting the co-occurrence of different Wolbachia strains in freshwater invertebrates host species, i.e., freshwater Arthropoda (Crustacea), Mollusca (Bivalvia), and water bears (Tardigrada) by applying NGS primers designed by us and a Python script that allows the identification of Wolbachia target sequences from the microbiome communities. We also compare the results obtained using the commonly applied NGS primers and the Sanger sequencing approach. Finally, we describe three supergroups of Wolbachia: (i) a new supergroup V identified in Crustacea and Bivalvia hosts; (ii) supergroup A identified in Crustacea, Bivalvia, and Eutardigrada hosts, and (iii) supergroup E infection in the Crustacea host microbiome community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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18 pages, 7604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Symbiotic Systems of Cicadas Provides New Insights into Distribution of Microbial Symbionts and Improves Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Technique

by Zhi Huang, Jinrui Zhou, Zhijun Zhang, Hong He and Cong Wei

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032434 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1609

Abstract

Nutritional symbionts of sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects of Hemiptera are usually confined to the bacteriomes and/or fat bodies. Knowledge is limited about the distribution of microbial symbionts in other organs. We investigated the distribution of obligate symbionts in the salivary glands, gut tissues, reproductive [...] Read more.

Nutritional symbionts of sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects of Hemiptera are usually confined to the bacteriomes and/or fat bodies. Knowledge is limited about the distribution of microbial symbionts in other organs. We investigated the distribution of obligate symbionts in the salivary glands, gut tissues, reproductive organs, bacteriomes, and fat bodies of two cicada species, Karenia caelatata and Tanna sp., using integrated methods, including a modified fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, which can greatly enhance the FISH signal intensity of related symbionts. We revealed that Candidatus Sulcia muelleri (Sulcia) and a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) were harbored in the bacteriomes and fat bodies, respectively. Both of Sulcia and YLS can be transmitted to the offspring via ovaries, forming a “symbiont ball” in each egg. Neither Sulcia nor YLS were harbored in the salivary glands, gut tissues and testes. Phylogenetic trees of both Sulcia and cicadas confirm that K. caelatata is a member of the tribe Dundubiini, and the tribe Leptopsaltriini that comprises Ta. sp. is not monophyletic. YLS of K. caelatata is embedded inside the lineage of YLS of Dundubiini, whereas YLS of Ta. sp. is closely related to the clade comprising both cicada-parasitizing fungi Ophiocordyceps and YLS of Mogannia conica and Meimuna mongolica, suggesting an evolutionary replacement of YLS in Ta. sp. from an Ophiocordyceps fungus to another Ophiocordyceps fungus. Our results provide new insights into the symbiosis between Cicadidae and related symbionts. Modification through the addition of helpers and heat shock greatly enhanced the FISH signal intensity of YLS, which may provide guidelines for enhancement of the hybridization signal intensity of other symbiont(s) in the FISH experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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15 pages, 2161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cysteamine/Cystamine Exert Anti-Mycobacterium abscessus Activity Alone or in Combination with Amikacin

by Ivana Palucci, Alessandro Salustri, Flavio De Maio, Maria del Carmen Pereyra Boza, Francesco Paglione, Michela Sali, Luca Occhigrossi, Manuela D’Eletto, Federica Rossin, Delia Goletti, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Mauro Piacentini and Giovanni Delogu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021203 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1428

Abstract

Host-directed therapies are emerging as a promising tool in the curing of difficult-to-treat infections, such as those caused by drug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we aim to test the potential activity of the FDA- and EMA-approved drugs cysteamine and cystamine against Mycobacterium abscessus [...] Read more.

Host-directed therapies are emerging as a promising tool in the curing of difficult-to-treat infections, such as those caused by drug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we aim to test the potential activity of the FDA- and EMA-approved drugs cysteamine and cystamine against Mycobacterium abscessus. In human macrophages (differentiated THP-1 cells), these drugs restricted M. abscessus growth similar to that achieved by amikacin. Here, we use the human ex vivo granuloma-like structures (GLS) model of infection with the M. abscessus rough (MAB-R) and smooth (MAB-S) variants to study the activity of new therapies against M. abscessus. We demonstrate that cysteamine and cystamine show a decrease in the number of total GLSs per well in the MAB-S and MAB-R infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, combined administration of cysteamine or cystamine with amikacin resulted in enhanced activity against the two M. abscessus morpho variants compared to treatment with amikacin only. Treatment with cysteamine and cystamine was more effective in reducing GLS size and bacterial load during MAB-S infection compared with MAB-R infection. Moreover, treatment with these two drugs drastically quenched the exuberant proinflammatory response triggered by the MAB-R variant. These findings showing the activity of cysteamine and cystamine against the R and S M. abscessus morphotypes support the use of these drugs as novel host-directed therapies against M. abscessus infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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15 pages, 4047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mutation of Basic Residues R283, R286, and K288 in the Matrix Protein of Newcastle Disease Virus Attenuates Viral Replication and Pathogenicity

by Zhiqiang Duan, Haiying Shi, Jingru Xing, Qianyong Zhang and Menglan Liu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24020980 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1228

Abstract

The matrix (M) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) contains large numbers of unevenly distributed basic residues, but the precise function of most basic residues in the M protein remains enigmatic. We previously demonstrated that the C-terminus (aa 264–313) of M protein interacted [...] Read more.

The matrix (M) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) contains large numbers of unevenly distributed basic residues, but the precise function of most basic residues in the M protein remains enigmatic. We previously demonstrated that the C-terminus (aa 264–313) of M protein interacted with the extra-terminal (ET) domain of chicken bromodomain-containing protein 2 (chBRD2), which promoted NDV replication by downregulating chBRD2 expression and facilitating viral RNA synthesis and transcription. However, the key amino acid sites determining M’s interaction with chBRD2/ET and their roles in the replication and pathogenicity of NDV are not known. In this study, three basic residues—R283, R286, and K288—in the NDV M protein were verified to be responsible for its interaction with chBRD2/ET. In addition, mutation of these basic residues (R283A/R286A/K288A) in the M protein changed its electrostatic pattern and abrogated the decreased expression of endogenic chBRD2. Moreover, a recombinant virus harboring these mutations resulted in a pathotype change of NDV and attenuated viral replication and pathogenicity in chickens due to the decreased viral RNA synthesis and transcription. Our findings therefore provide a better understanding of the crucial biological functions of M’s basic residues and also aid in understanding the poorly understood pathogenesis of NDV. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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15 pages, 1406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Wolbachia pipientis Genotype Increasing Heat Stress Resistance of Drosophila melanogaster Host Is Characterized by a Large Chromosomal Inversion

by Aleksandra E. Korenskaia, Olga D. Shishkina, Alexandra I. Klimenko, Olga V. Andreenkova, Margarita A. Bobrovskikh, Natalja V. Shatskaya, Gennady V. Vasiliev and Nataly E. Gruntenko

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 16212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232416212 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1612

Abstract

The maternally transmitted endocellular bacteria Wolbachia is a well-known symbiont of insects, demonstrating both negative and positive effects on host fitness. The previously found Wolbachia strain wMelPlus is characterized by a positive effect on the stress-resistance of its host Drosophila melanogaster, under [...] Read more.

The maternally transmitted endocellular bacteria Wolbachia is a well-known symbiont of insects, demonstrating both negative and positive effects on host fitness. The previously found Wolbachia strain wMelPlus is characterized by a positive effect on the stress-resistance of its host Drosophila melanogaster, under heat stress conditions. This investigation is dedicated to studying the genomic underpinnings of such an effect. We sequenced two closely related Wolbachia strains, wMelPlus and wMelCS¹¹², assembled their complete genomes, and performed comparative genomic analysis engaging available Wolbachia genomes from the wMel and wMelCS groups. Despite the two strains under study sharing very close gene-composition, we discovered a large (>1/6 of total genome) chromosomal inversion in wMelPlus, spanning through the region that includes the area of the inversion earlier found in the wMel group of Wolbachia genotypes. A number of genes in unique inversion blocks of wMelPlus were identified that might be involved in the induction of a stress-resistant phenotype in the host. We hypothesize that such an inversion could rearrange established genetic regulatory-networks, causing the observed effects of such a complex fly phenotype as a modulation of heat stress resistance. Based on our findings, we propose that wMelPlus be distinguished as a separate genotype of the wMelCS group, named wMelCS3. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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21 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SecA2 Associates with Translating Ribosomes and Contributes to the Secretion of Potent IFN-β Inducing RNAs

by Lisa Teubner, Renate Frantz, Luigi La Pietra, Martina Hudel, Jasmin Bazant, Günter Lochnit, Lena Eismann, Günter Kramer, Trinad Chakraborty and Mobarak Abu Mraheil

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 15021; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232315021 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

Protein secretion plays a central role in modulating interactions of the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes with its environment. Recently, secretion of RNA has emerged as an important strategy used by the pathogen to manipulate the host cell response to its advantage. In general, [...] Read more.

Protein secretion plays a central role in modulating interactions of the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes with its environment. Recently, secretion of RNA has emerged as an important strategy used by the pathogen to manipulate the host cell response to its advantage. In general, the Sec-dependent translocation pathway is a major route for protein secretion in L. monocytogenes, but mechanistic insights into the secretion of RNA by these pathways are lacking. Apart from the classical SecA1 secretion pathway, L. monocytogenes also encodes for a SecA paralogue (SecA2) which targets the export of a specific subset of proteins, some of which are involved in virulence. Here, we demonstrated that SecA2 co-sediments with translating ribosomes and provided evidence that it associates with a subset of secreted small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) that induce high levels of IFN-β response in host cells. We found that enolase, which is translocated by a SecA2-dependent mechanism, binds to several sRNAs, suggesting a pathway by which sRNAs are targeted to the supernatant of L. monocytogenes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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15 pages, 2546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sexual Dimorphism of the Gut Microbiota in the Chinese Alligator and Its Convergence in the Wild Environment

by Meng-Yuan Hu, Qin-Zhang Yu, Jian-Qing Lin and Sheng-Guo Fang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012140 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

The gut microbiota forms a complex microecosystem in vertebrates and is affected by various factors. As a key intrinsic factor, sex has a persistent impact on the formation and development of gut microbiota. Few studies have analyzed sexual dimorphism of gut microbiota, particularly [...] Read more.

The gut microbiota forms a complex microecosystem in vertebrates and is affected by various factors. As a key intrinsic factor, sex has a persistent impact on the formation and development of gut microbiota. Few studies have analyzed sexual dimorphism of gut microbiota, particularly in wild animals. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota of juvenile and adult Chinese alligators, and untargeted metabolomics to study serum metabolomes of adult alligators. We observed significant sexual differences in the community diversity in juvenile, but not adult, alligators. In terms of taxonomic composition, the phylum Fusobacteriota and genus Cetobacterium were highly abundant in adult alligators, similar to those present in carnivorous fishes, whereas the gut microbiota composition in juvenile alligators resembled that in terrestrial reptiles, indicating that adults are affected by their wild aquatic environment and lack sex dimorphism in gut microbiota. The correlation analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of adults was also affected by cyanobacteria in the external environment, and this effect was sex-biased and mediated by sex hormones. Overall, this study reveals sexual differences in the gut microbiota of crocodilians and their convergence in the external environment, while also providing insights into host–microbiota interactions in wildlife. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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12 pages, 2025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shrimp Lipid Droplet Protein Perilipin Involves in the Pathogenesis of AHPND-Causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus

by Chuanqi Wang, Defu Yao, Mingming Zhao, Kaiyu Lu, Zhongyang Lin, Xiuli Chen, Yongzhen Zhao and Yueling Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810520 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1902

Abstract

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), caused by a unique strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp (AHPND)), has become the world’s most severe debilitating disease in cultured shrimp. Thus far, the pathogenesis of AHPND remains largely unknow. Herein, in Litopenaeus vannamei, we found [...] Read more.

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), caused by a unique strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp (AHPND)), has become the world’s most severe debilitating disease in cultured shrimp. Thus far, the pathogenesis of AHPND remains largely unknow. Herein, in Litopenaeus vannamei, we found that a Vp (AHPND) infection significantly increased the expression of lipid droplets (LDs) protein LvPerilipin, as well as promoted the formation of LDs. In addition, the knockdown of LvPerilipin increased the shrimp survival rate in response to the Vp (AHPND) infection, and inhibited the proliferation of Vp (AHPND). Furthermore, we demonstrated that LvPerilipin depletion could increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be responsible for the decreased Vp (AHPND) proliferation. Taken together, our current data for the first time reveal that the shrimp lipid droplets protein Perilipin is involved in the pathogenesis of Vp (AHPND) via promoting LDs accumulation and decreasing ROS production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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18 pages, 2045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collaborative Action of Microglia and Astrocytes Mediates Neutrophil Recruitment to the CNS to Defend against Escherichia coli K1 Infection

by Peng Liu, Xinyue Wang, Qian Yang, Xiaolin Yan, Yu Fan, Si Zhang, Yi Wei, Min Huang, Lingyan Jiang and Lu Feng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126540 - 11 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1817

Abstract

Escherichia coli K1 is a leading cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis. Recruitment of neutrophils to the central nervous system (CNS) via local immune response plays a critical role in defense against E. coli K1 infection; however, the mechanism underlying this recruitment remains unclear. [...] Read more.

Escherichia coli K1 is a leading cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis. Recruitment of neutrophils to the central nervous system (CNS) via local immune response plays a critical role in defense against E. coli K1 infection; however, the mechanism underlying this recruitment remains unclear. In this study, we report that microglia and astrocytes are activated in response to stimulation by E. coli K1 and/or E. coli K1-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and work collaboratively to drive neutrophil recruitment to the CNS. Microglial activation results in the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, which activates astrocytes, resulting in the production of CXCL1, a chemokine critical for recruiting neutrophils. Mice lacking either microglia or TNF-α exhibit impaired production of CXCL1, impaired neutrophil recruitment, and an increased CNS bacterial burden. C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2)-expressing neutrophils primarily respond to CXCL1 released by astrocytes. This study provides further insights into how immune responses drive neutrophil recruitment to the brain to combat E. coli K1 infection. In addition, we show that direct recognition of E. coli K1 by microglia is prevented by the K1 capsule. This study also reveals that OMVs are sufficient to induce microglial activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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Review

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26 pages, 1963 KiB

Open AccessReview

Tuning the Wavelength: Manipulation of Light Signaling to Control Plant Defense

by Susan Breen, Hazel McLellan, Paul R. J. Birch and Eleanor M. Gilroy

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3803; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043803 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2418

Abstract

The growth–defense trade-off in plants is a phenomenon whereby plants must balance the allocation of their resources between developmental growth and defense against attack by pests and pathogens. Consequently, there are a series of points where growth signaling can negatively regulate defenses and [...] Read more.

The growth–defense trade-off in plants is a phenomenon whereby plants must balance the allocation of their resources between developmental growth and defense against attack by pests and pathogens. Consequently, there are a series of points where growth signaling can negatively regulate defenses and where defense signaling can inhibit growth. Light perception by various photoreceptors has a major role in the control of growth and thus many points where it can influence defense. Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins to manipulate defense signaling in their hosts. Evidence is emerging that some of these effectors target light signaling pathways. Several effectors from different kingdoms of life have converged on key chloroplast processes to take advantage of regulatory crosstalk. Moreover, plant pathogens also perceive and react to light in complex ways to regulate their own growth, development, and virulence. Recent work has shown that varying light wavelengths may provide a novel way of controlling or preventing disease outbreaks in plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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16 pages, 14464 KiB

Open AccessReview

Protein Acetylation Going Viral: Implications in Antiviral Immunity and Viral Infection

by Minfei Xue, Tingting Feng, Zhiqiang Chen, Yongdong Yan, Zhengrong Chen and Jianfeng Dai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11308; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911308 - 25 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1986

Abstract

During viral infection, both host and viral proteins undergo post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation, and acetylation, which play critical roles in viral replication, pathogenesis, and host antiviral responses. Protein acetylation is one of the most important PTMs and is catalyzed by [...] Read more.

During viral infection, both host and viral proteins undergo post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation, and acetylation, which play critical roles in viral replication, pathogenesis, and host antiviral responses. Protein acetylation is one of the most important PTMs and is catalyzed by a series of acetyltransferases that divert acetyl groups from acetylated molecules to specific amino acid residues of substrates, affecting chromatin structure, transcription, and signal transduction, thereby participating in the cell cycle as well as in metabolic and other cellular processes. Acetylation of host and viral proteins has emerging roles in the processes of virus adsorption, invasion, synthesis, assembly, and release as well as in host antiviral responses. Methods to study protein acetylation have been gradually optimized in recent decades, providing new opportunities to investigate acetylation during viral infection. This review summarizes the classification of protein acetylation and the standard methods used to map this modification, with an emphasis on viral and host protein acetylation during viral infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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23 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Psychiatric Disorders

by Aleksandra Góralczyk-Bińkowska, Dagmara Szmajda-Krygier and Elżbieta Kozłowska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911245 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 17797

Abstract

Modulating the gut microbiome and its influence on human health is the subject of intense research. The gut microbiota could be associated not only with gastroenterological diseases but also with psychiatric disorders. The importance of factors such as stress, mode of delivery, the [...] Read more.

Modulating the gut microbiome and its influence on human health is the subject of intense research. The gut microbiota could be associated not only with gastroenterological diseases but also with psychiatric disorders. The importance of factors such as stress, mode of delivery, the role of probiotics, circadian clock system, diet, and occupational and environmental exposure in the relationship between the gut microbiota and brain function through bidirectional communication, described as “the microbiome–gut–brain axis”, is especially underlined. In this review, we discuss the link between the intestinal microbiome and the brain and host response involving different pathways between the intestinal microbiota and the nervous system (e.g., neurotransmitters, endocrine system, immunological mechanisms, or bacterial metabolites). We review the microbiota alterations and their results in the development of psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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26 pages, 1263 KiB

Open AccessReview

Roles of RNA Sensors in Host Innate Response to Influenza Virus and Coronavirus Infections

by Wei Li, Hongnuan Wang and Shijun J. Zheng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8285; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158285 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3221

Abstract

Influenza virus and coronavirus are two important respiratory viruses, which often cause serious respiratory diseases in humans and animals after infection. In recent years, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and SARS-CoV-2 have become major pathogens causing respiratory diseases in humans. Thus, an [...] Read more.

Influenza virus and coronavirus are two important respiratory viruses, which often cause serious respiratory diseases in humans and animals after infection. In recent years, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and SARS-CoV-2 have become major pathogens causing respiratory diseases in humans. Thus, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between viral infection and host innate immunity is particularly important to the stipulation of effective control strategies. As the first line of defense against pathogens infection, innate immunity not only acts as a natural physiological barrier, but also eliminates pathogens through the production of interferon (IFN), the formation of inflammasomes, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this process, the recognition of viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is the initiation and the most important part of the innate immune response. In this review, we summarize the roles of RNA sensors in the host innate immune response to influenza virus and coronavirus infections in different species, with a particular focus on innate immune recognition of viral nucleic acids in host cells, which will help to develop an effective strategy for the control of respiratory infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Microbe Interaction 2022)

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