Pseudorabies virus infection reshapes the host epitranscriptome by globally suppressing but selectively elevating specific RNA modifications

RNA modifications are ubiquitous in host cells and hold crucial roles in regulating diverse biological processes. Although the m6A modification during viral infections has garnered significant attention, the involvement of other modifications in such infections remains underexplored. This study was aimed to map out the comprehensive RNA modification profiles in porcine kidney PK-15 cells infected with pseudorabies virus (PRV) at various time points. Throughout the PRV infection, we identified a total of 31 distinct RNA modifications, among which 25 were detected in significantly higher abundances. Our findings indicated that PRV infection largely suppressed the overall level of RNA modifications, but interestingly, it elevated specific modifications, namely Am, Cm, Gm, and Um. Upon deeper investigation, we discovered that PRV infection notably diminished the levels of enzymes related to m1A modification. Collectively, this study uncovers the landscapes of RNA modification in PRV infection, paving the way for further explorations into RNA modifications during herpesvirus infections.