Circulating miRNAome of avian influenza-infected ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres). COAST IMPACT

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Circulating miRNAs - miRNAs that have been released from cells and circulate in the bloodstream - are relatively stable and interesting molecules for wildlife research, where they may form a proxy for gene expression as a function of the animal’s state under a variety of environmental challenges. Aiming at providing initial baseline data on the circulating miRNAome in avian wildlife, we assessed the miRNA profiles of wild ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) on their Australian non-breeding grounds. The ruddy turnstone is a long-distant migrant and a significant reservoir species for low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). We therefore investigated both LPAIV-infected and uninfected individuals for their specific miRNA profiles to potentially elucidate the species’ molecular mechanisms underlying its response to LPAIV infection.