Genome-wide analysis of host-encoded microRNAs modulating SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Viruses exploit cellular machinery to complete their replication cycle. Furthering our understanding of this process provides insight into the mechanism of virus replication and potential targets for antiviral therapeutics. Genome-wide CRISPR screens have identified cellular pathways important in the SARS-COV-2 infection process, including vesicular traffic, lipid homeostasis and PI3K signalling. Functional genomics-driven analysis of host-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) impacting SARS-CoV-2 infection would provide further unbiased and discovery-driven insight into the host-pathogen interface. Here we present findings from genome-wide complementary miRNA mimic and inhibitor screens performed in a bio-safety level (BSL)-4 laboratory using a combination of high-throughput robotics, high-content imaging and novel data analysis pipelines. This dataset has identified both miRNA promoters and inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication which may be used by researchers to further explore therapeutic targets against SARS-CoV-2 and the host factors influencing COVID pathogenesis.