As a special type of noncoding RNA, circular RNAs (circRNAs)
are prevalent in many organisms. They can serve as sponges
for microRNAs and protein scaffolds, or templates for protein
translation, making them linked to cellular homeostasis
and disease progression. In recent years, circRNAs have been
found to be abnormally expressed during the processes of
viral infection and pathogenesis, and can help a virus escape
the immune response of a host. Thus, they are now considered
to play important functions in the invasion and development
of viruses. Moreover, the potential application of circRNAs
as biomarkers of viral infection or candidates for therapeutic
targeting deserves consideration. This review summarizes
circRNAs in the transcriptome, including their classification,
production, functions, and value as biomarkers. This review
paper also describes research progress on circRNAs in viral
infection (mainly hepatitis B virus, HIV, and some human
herpes viruses) and aims to provide new ideas for antiviral
therapies targeting circRNAs.
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