New insights on circular RNAs and their potential applications as biomarkers, therapeutic agents, and preventive vaccines in viral infections: with a glance at SARS-CoV-2

The occurrence of viral infections and approaches to handling them are very challenging and require prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Recently, genomic medicine approaches have come up with the discovery of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) on the basis of gene silencing. CircRNAs, as a group of non-encoded RNAs, make a loop-like structure by back-splicing through 3' and 5' ends. They are stable, abundant, specific, and highly conserved and can be quickly generated at large scales in vitro. CircRNAs have the potential to contribute in several cellular processes in a way that some serve as microRNA scriptional regulators, and immune system modulators. CircRNAs can even play an important role in modulating antiviral immune responses. In the present review, circRNAs' biogenesis, function, and biomarker and therapeutic potential as well as their prospective applications as vaccines against viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 are explained. By considering their unique properties, their potential to be used as novel vaccines, biomarkers, and a therapeutic approach appears possible.

Automated summary

This review provides an overview of circRNAs' biogenesis, function, biomarker and therapeutic potential, and their prospective applications as vaccines against viral infections. CircRNAs, with their stable, abundant, specific, and highly conserved properties, play important roles in modulating immune responses and gene expression.