Trans-kingdom RNAs and their fates in recipient cells: advances, utilization, and perspectives

The phenomenon and potential mechanisms of trans-kingdom RNA silencing (or RNA interference, RNAi) are among the most exciting topics in science today. Based on trans-kingdom RNAi, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) has been widely applied to create crops with resistance to various pests and pathogens, overcoming the limitations of resistant cultivars. However, a lack of transformation technology in many crops limits the application of HIGS. Here, we describe the various fates of trans-kingdom RNAs in recipient organisms. Based on the assumption that small RNAs can be transferred between the host and its microbiome or among microbiome members, we propose a possible alternative strategy for plant protection against pathogens without the need for crop genetic modification.

Automated summary

The phenomenon and potential mechanisms of trans-kingdom RNA silencing (or RNA interference, RNAi) are currently one of the most exciting topics in science. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) based on trans-kingdom RNAi has great potential in creating crops resistant to various pests and pathogens. However, the lack of transformation technology in many crops limits the application of this technology, leading researchers to propose a possible alternative strategy for plant protection against pathogens without the need for crop genetic modification.