Biogenesis of virus-derived piRNAs in Bombyx mori BmN4 cells: Evidence for incidental processing of viral RNA.
Insects rely on RNA interference (RNAi) pathways for antiviral defense, primarily through small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). However, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), traditionally associated with transposon silencing, have been observed to target viruses (vpiRNAs) in some cell lines. One example regards the Bombyx mori N...