Recently, avian viral diseases have become one of the main models to study mechanisms of viral infections and pathogenesis. The study of regulatory relationships and mechanisms between viruses and microRNAs has also become the focus. In this review, we briefly summarize the general situations of microRNAs encoded by avian herpesviruses. Also, we analyze the regulatory relationships between tumorigenicity of avian herpesviruses and microRNAs. Additionally, the possible applications for prevention and treatment of viral diseases (such as infectious bursal disease, avian influenza and avian leucosis) using the regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs are also discussed.
Animals ; Avian Leukosis ; Birds ; virology ; Birnaviridae Infections ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; Influenza in Birds ; MicroRNAs ; genetics

Transgenic chicken and oviduct bioreactor are growing to be one of the hotspot of scientific study in the field of biology. The most successful method of producing transgenic chicken is pseudotyped retrovirus vector system, but no one has reported the production of transgenic chicken by retrovirus system recently in our country. In order to accelerate our study in this field, we introduced the relevant technical methods such as packaging retrovirus and vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) pseudotyped retrovirus, optimizing the conditions of packaging retrovirus, concentrating VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus, helper virus assays, and microinjection of retrovirus. Furthermore, we successfully conducted in vivo study for detecting the marker gene EGFP of chicken embryo as well as in vitro study for detecting that gene of chicken embryo myoblast (CFM), thus we have provided an applied technical platform for studies of transgenic chicken in the future.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus ; genetics

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of important small non-coding RNA molecules, which participate in the post transcriptional gene regulation. In this review, the numbers and chromosomal distribution of chicken miRNAs, and the regulation and function of chicken miRNAs in immune, embryo development and virus infection were reviewed. Additionally, the applications of chicken miRNAs were also discussed briefly. We hope it can provide references for further study and use of miRNAs in poultry husbandry fields.
Animals ; Chickens ; genetics ; Embryonic Development ; genetics ; Immunity ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Virus Diseases ; immunology ; veterinary