N6-Methyladenosine and Viral Infection

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), as a dynamic posttranscriptional RNA modification, recently gave rise to the field of viral epitranscriptomics. The interaction between virus and host is affected by m⁶A. Multiple m⁶A-modified viral RNAs have been observed. The epitranscriptome of m⁶A in host cells are altered after viral Infection. The expression of viral genes, the replication of virus and the generation of progeny virions are influenced by m⁶A modifications in viral RNAs during virus Infection. Meanwhile, the decorations of m⁶A in host mRNAs can make viral infections more likely to happen or can enhance the resistance of host to virus Infection. However, the mechanism of m⁶A regulation in viral Infection and host immune response has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. With the development of sequencing-based biotechnologies, transcriptome-wide mapping of m⁶A in viruses has been achieved, laying the foundation for expanding its functions and corresponding mechanisms. In this report, we summarize the positive and negative effects of m⁶A in distinct viral Infection. Given the increasingly important roles of m⁶A in diverse viruses, m⁶A represents a novel potential target for Antiviral therapy.