RNA virus infections and their effect on host alternative splicing

It is evident that viral infection dramatically alters host gene expression, and these alterations have both pro-and anti-viral functions. While the effects of viral infection on transcription and translation have been comprehen-sively reviewed, less attention has been paid to the impact on alternative splicing of pre-messenger RNAs. Here we review salient examples of how viral infection leads to changes in alternative splicing and discuss how these changes impact infection.

Automated summary

It is well-known that viral infection significantly changes the expression of host genes, which have both pro- and anti-viral functions. While the effects of viral infection on transcription and translation have been extensively studied, the impact on alternative splicing of pre-messenger RNAs has received less attention. In this review, we highlight notable examples of how viral infection alters alternative splicing and discuss the implications of these changes on infection.