Three-dimensional chromatin in infectious disease-A role for gene regulation and pathogenicity?

PLoS Pathog. 2021 Feb 4;17(2):e1009207. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009207. eCollection 2021 Feb.

Abstract

The recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic has once again reminded us the importance of understanding infectious diseases. One important but understudied area in infectious disease research is the role of nuclear architecture or the physical arrangement of the genome in the nucleus in controlling gene regulation and pathogenicity. Recent advances in research methods, such as Genome-wide chromosome conformation capture using high-throughput sequencing (Hi-C), have allowed for easier analysis of nuclear architecture and chromosomal reorganization in both the infectious disease agents themselves as well as in their host cells. This review will discuss broadly on what is known about nuclear architecture in infectious disease, with an emphasis on chromosomal reorganization, and briefly discuss what steps are required next in the field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COVID-19 / genetics
  • COVID-19 / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Chromosomes / genetics
  • Chromosomes / metabolism
  • Communicable Diseases / genetics*
  • Communicable Diseases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans

Substances

  • Chromatin