The hepatitis B virus (HBV), particularly its X protein, is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis. Thus far, effective medication against HBV has not been developed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) present a promising therapeutic approach for inhibiting the virus. In this study, 1917 miRNAs from the miRBase database were screened to identify candidates capable of targeting HBV genotype B using bioinformatics software. Two parameters, namely pairing pattern and minimum free energy, were employed to select qualified miRNAs. Among 39 initial candidates, three miRNAs targeting the X gene and one miRNA targeting the C gene were discovered. Remarkably, miR-6770-5p was the sole candidate capable of targeting the X gene across all HBV genotypes with a stronger inhibitory potency compared to other candidates. The three additional candidates also exhibited promising potency against some genotypes. Thus, the identified candidates hold potential as therapeutics for hepatitis infection.

Keywords: Human miRNAs, HBV, X gene, in silico analysis