IISER Bhopal Scientists identify circular RNA to help HIV treatment

This breakthrough research reveals how ‘ciTRAN,’ a circular RNA molecule, influences the virus's transcription process, which could potentially lead to novel therapeutic strategies against HIV-1

A team of researchers at IISER Bhopal has identified a circular RNA molecule, named ‘ciTRAN’, which plays a significant role in replication of the HIV-1 virus.

Circular RNAs differ from typical linear RNAs because they form a closed-loop structure. Although they are naturally present in very small amounts inside cells, they have been found to regulate gene expression in several contexts. Understanding their role during viral infections, however, has been challenging.

Dr. Ajit Chande, who led the study, said that circular RNAs are “much harder to detect because they appear in lower quantities and often get overshadowed by the large amount of viral RNA during infections.”

Team found that HIV-1 makes use of this host-derived circRNA to support its own transcription process, effectively helping the virus multiply more efficiently. “Our results indicate that the HIV-1 virus hijacks this host-encoded ciTRAN in such a way that it can use it to multiply efficiently,” Dr. Chande said.

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