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Viral bioinformatics: computational views of host and pathogen
Paul Kellam1, Ria Holzerlandt, Eva Gramoustianou
1Virus Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, University College, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1T4JF, UK.
Novartis Foundation Symposium
|January 10, 2004
Summary
Viruses and cellular life constantly co-evolve, driving the development of antiviral responses. Systems virology, using genomics and new technologies, offers a global view of host-pathogen interactions for a deeper understanding of viral diseases.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Systems Biology
- Immunology
- Genomics
Background:
- Viruses are ubiquitous and have co-evolved with cellular life, leading to complex host-antiviral responses and viral countermeasures.
- Viral replication involves the co-option or interference with host cellular pathways, offering insights into host biology.
- Traditional single-gene studies of host-virus interactions lack a global, systems-level perspective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the potential of systems-level virology for understanding host-pathogen dynamics.
- To emphasize the integration of complete host and pathogen genome sequences with advanced experimental and computational methods.
- To provide a global view of dynamic molecular mechanisms in viral infections.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing complete host and pathogen genome sequences.
- Employing new experimental methods and computational approaches for global analysis.
- Applying DNA microarrays and specific viral data resources within a systems virology framework.
Main Results:
- Systems virology reveals the detailed cellular context of viral replication.
- Identifies common and distinct antiviral mechanisms across different viruses and host responses.
- Demonstrates the impact of host cell gene expression programs on viral infection outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Systems-level virology provides a comprehensive understanding of host-virus interactions.
- This approach is crucial for deciphering viral disease pathology, from acute infection to chronic persistence.
- Future directions in microbiology and immunology will increasingly adopt a systems-level perspective.