Identification and profiling of microRNAs in the midgut of Laodelphax striatellus after rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) infection

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs (18–25 nt) that are involved in many physiological processes including development, cancer, immunity, apoptosis and host-microbe interactions through posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we measured the profile of small RNAs in the midgut of Laodelphax striatellus after rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) infection. We identified 19 insect miRNAs that were differentially expressed compared with the RBSDV-free (VF) control. Among them, seven were upregulated and 12 downregulated in the RB midgut. Four miRNAs exhibited high expression levels (>500 reads) in either the VF or RBSDV-infected (RB) midgut; among them, three were up-regulated. This study identified critical miRNAs involved in the RBSDV infection in the midgut of L. striatellus. Overall design: The microRNAs expression profile during RBSDV infection in the midgut of L. striatellus.