Host-parasite interactions mediated by cross-species microRNAs.

Parasitic diseases are still the common diseases that seriously threaten human health and life, and a better understanding of host-parasite interactions is the key to effectively controlling and ultimately eradicating these diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitously expressed in almost all eukaryotic parasites and their hosts. These regulatory noncoding RNAs can be released by donor cells and absorbed by distant recipient cells within individual organisms. Recent studies illustrate numerous examples of cross-species miRNA exchanges within the context of host-parasite interactions. Here we review the literature demonstrating that cross-species miRNAs are consistently present in parasites or their hosts, and detail their functional responses in host defense or parasite survival and pathogenesis.