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International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2020Being opportunistic intracellular pathogens, viruses are dependent on the host for their replication. They hijack host cellular machinery for their replication and... (Review)
Review
Being opportunistic intracellular pathogens, viruses are dependent on the host for their replication. They hijack host cellular machinery for their replication and survival by targeting crucial cellular physiological pathways, including transcription, translation, immune pathways, and apoptosis. Immediately after translation, the host and viral proteins undergo a process called post-translational modification (PTM). PTMs of proteins involves the attachment of small proteins, carbohydrates/lipids, or chemical groups to the proteins and are crucial for the proteins' functioning. During viral infection, host proteins utilize PTMs to control the virus replication, using strategies like activating immune response pathways, inhibiting viral protein synthesis, and ultimately eliminating the virus from the host. PTM of viral proteins increases solubility, enhances antigenicity and virulence properties. However, RNA viruses are devoid of enzymes capable of introducing PTMs to their proteins. Hence, they utilize the host PTM machinery to promote their survival. Proteins from viruses belonging to the family: , , and such as chikungunya, dengue, zika, HIV, and coronavirus are a few that are well-known to be modified. This review discusses various host and virus-mediated PTMs that play a role in the outcome during the infection.
Topics: Acetylation; Chikungunya virus; Coronavirus; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Glycosylation; HIV; Host Microbial Interactions; Humans; Phosphorylation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; RNA Virus Infections; RNA Viruses; Ubiquitination; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication; Zika Virus
PubMed: 33396899
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010323 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2017Self-replicating RNA derived from the genomes of positive strand RNA viruses represents a powerful tool for both molecular studies on virus biology and approaches to... (Review)
Review
Self-replicating RNA derived from the genomes of positive strand RNA viruses represents a powerful tool for both molecular studies on virus biology and approaches to novel safe and effective vaccines. The following chapter summarizes the principles how such RNAs can be established and used for design of vaccines. Due to the large variety of strategies needed to circumvent specific pitfalls in the design of such constructs the technical details of the experiments are not described here but can be found in the cited literature.
Topics: Animals; Humans; RNA Viruses; RNA, Viral; Replicon; Vaccines
PubMed: 27987141
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6481-9_2 -
RNA Biology 2011
Topics: Genome, Viral; Periodicals as Topic; RNA Viruses; Recombination, Genetic; Transcription, Genetic; Virus Replication
PubMed: 21593586
DOI: 10.4161/rna.8.2.15663 -
PLoS Genetics Oct 2019Viral quasispecies refers to a population structure that consists of extremely large numbers of variant genomes, termed mutant spectra, mutant swarms or mutant clouds....
Viral quasispecies refers to a population structure that consists of extremely large numbers of variant genomes, termed mutant spectra, mutant swarms or mutant clouds. Fueled by high mutation rates, mutants arise continually, and they change in relative frequency as viral replication proceeds. The term quasispecies was adopted from a theory of the origin of life in which primitive replicons) consisted of mutant distributions, as found experimentally with present day RNA viruses. The theory provided a new definition of wild type, and a conceptual framework for the interpretation of the adaptive potential of RNA viruses that contrasted with classical studies based on consensus sequences. Standard clonal analyses and deep sequencing methodologies have confirmed the presence of myriads of mutant genomes in viral populations, and their participation in adaptive processes. The quasispecies concept applies to any biological entity, but its impact is more evident when the genome size is limited and the mutation rate is high. This is the case of the RNA viruses, ubiquitous in our biosphere, and that comprise many important pathogens. In virology, quasispecies are defined as complex distributions of closely related variant genomes subjected to genetic variation, competition and selection, and that may act as a unit of selection. Despite being an integral part of their replication, high mutation rates have an upper limit compatible with inheritable information. Crossing such a limit leads to RNA virus extinction, a transition that is the basis of an antiviral design termed lethal mutagenesis.
Topics: Evolution, Molecular; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Mutation Rate; Origin of Life; Quasispecies; RNA Viruses; Viral Vaccines; Virus Replication
PubMed: 31622336
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008271 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2016Acute upper and lower respiratory infections are a major public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. At greatest risk are young... (Review)
Review
Acute upper and lower respiratory infections are a major public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. At greatest risk are young children, the elderly, the chronically ill, and those with suppressed or compromised immune systems. Viruses are the predominant cause of respiratory tract illnesses and include RNA viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, and coronavirus. Laboratory testing is required for a reliable diagnosis of viral respiratory infections, as a clinical diagnosis can be difficult since signs and symptoms are often overlapping and not specific for any one virus. Recent advances in technology have resulted in the development of newer diagnostic assays that offer great promise for rapid and accurate detection of respiratory viral infections. This chapter emphasizes the fundamental characteristics and clinical importance of the various RNA viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory tract diseases in the immunocompromised host. It highlights the laboratory methods that can be used to make a rapid and definitive diagnosis for the greatest impact on the care and management of ill patients, and the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and community outbreaks.
Topics: Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; RNA Virus Infections; RNA Viruses; Respiratory Tract Infections
PubMed: 27726802
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0028-2016 -
Current Opinion in Virology Dec 2014Most viruses rely heavily on their host machinery to successfully replicate their genome and produce new virus particles. Recently, the interaction of positive-strand... (Review)
Review
Most viruses rely heavily on their host machinery to successfully replicate their genome and produce new virus particles. Recently, the interaction of positive-strand RNA viruses with the lipid biosynthetic and transport machinery has been the subject of intense investigation. In this review, we will discuss the contribution of various host lipids and related proteins in RNA virus replication and maturation.
Topics: Biological Transport; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Lipid Metabolism; RNA Viruses; Virus Replication
PubMed: 25262061
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.09.005 -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. RNA Sep 2019Numerous post-transcriptional RNA processes play a major role in regulating the quantity, quality and diversity of gene expression in the cell. These include RNA... (Review)
Review
Numerous post-transcriptional RNA processes play a major role in regulating the quantity, quality and diversity of gene expression in the cell. These include RNA processing events such as capping, splicing, polyadenylation and modification, but also aspects such as RNA localization, decay, translation, and non-coding RNA-associated regulation. The interface between the transcripts of RNA viruses and the various RNA regulatory processes in the cell, therefore, has high potential to significantly impact virus gene expression, regulation, cytopathology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, understanding RNA biology from the perspective of an RNA virus can shed considerable light on the broad impact of these post-transcriptional processes in cell biology. Thus the goal of this article is to provide an overview of the richness of cellular RNA biology and how RNA viruses use, usurp and/or avoid the associated machinery to impact the outcome of infection. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
Topics: RNA Viruses; RNA, Viral
PubMed: 31034160
DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1536 -
Current Topics in Microbiology and... 2016By now, it is well established that the error rate of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) that replicates RNA virus genomes is a primary driver of the mutation... (Review)
Review
By now, it is well established that the error rate of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) that replicates RNA virus genomes is a primary driver of the mutation frequencies observed in RNA virus populations-the basis for the RNA quasispecies. Over the last 10 years, a considerable amount of work has uncovered the molecular determinants of replication fidelity in this enzyme. The isolation of high- and low-fidelity variants for several RNA viruses, in an expanding number of viral families, provides evidence that nature has optimized the fidelity to facilitate genetic diversity and adaptation, while maintaining genetic integrity and infectivity. This chapter will provide an overview of what fidelity variants tell us about RNA virus biology and how they may be used in antiviral approaches.
Topics: Animals; Genetic Variation; Humans; Mutation Rate; RNA Virus Infections; RNA Viruses; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication
PubMed: 26499340
DOI: 10.1007/82_2015_483 -
Methods (San Diego, Calif.) Feb 2013
Topics: Animals; Genetic Techniques; Humans; Molecular Biology; RNA Viruses; Virus Replication
PubMed: 23465704
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.02.013 -
Trends in Molecular Medicine Jan 2017microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate many processes within a cell by manipulating protein levels through direct binding to mRNA and influencing... (Review)
Review
microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate many processes within a cell by manipulating protein levels through direct binding to mRNA and influencing translation efficiency, or mRNA abundance. Recent evidence demonstrates that miRNAs can also affect RNA virus replication and pathogenesis through direct binding to the RNA virus genome or through virus-mediated changes in the host transcriptome. Here, we review the current knowledge on the interaction between RNA viruses and cellular miRNAs. We also discuss how cell and tissue-specific expression of miRNAs can directly affect viral pathogenesis. Understanding the role of cellular miRNAs during viral infection may lead to the identification of novel mechanisms to block RNA virus replication or cell-specific regulation of viral vector targeting.
Topics: Animals; Genome, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; MicroRNAs; RNA Virus Infections; RNA Viruses; RNA, Viral; Transcriptome; Virus Replication
PubMed: 27989642
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.11.003