The role of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of Drosophila melanogaster’s innate immunity

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs ~19–22 nt long which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Their ability to exhibit dynamic expression patterns coupled with their wide variety of targets allows miRNAs to regulate many processes, including the innate immune response of Drosophila melanogaster. Recent studies have identified miRNAs in Drosophila which are differentially expressed during infection with different pathogens as well as miRNAs that may affect immune signalling when differentially expressed. This review provides an overview of miRNAswhich have been identified to play a role in the immune response of Drosophila through targeting of the Toll and IMD signalling pathways and other immune processes. It will also explore the role of miRNAs in fine-tuning the immune response in Drosophila and highlight current gaps in knowledge regarding the role of miRNAs in immunity and areas for further research.