MicroRNA response in insect salivary glands to plant virus infection

Most plant viruses depend on insect vectors for transmission. The salivary glands of insect vectors are the last barrier for these viruses to overcome before being transmitted to plant hosts. In this work, we dissected the microRNA (miRNA) response to plant virus infection in insect salivary glands using the model of the small brown planthopper and rice stripe virus (RSV). The abundance of hundreds of miRNAs changes in the salivary glands after RSV infection. Two specific miRNAs play distinct roles. One enhances the release of RSV from salivary glands into rice plants, and the other regulates viral accumulation within the insects. These findings deepen our understanding of small RNA reactions and potential functions of miRNAs to viral infection in the salivary glands of insect vectors.