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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
12:20
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
A highly structured, nuclease-resistant, noncoding RNA produced by flaviviruses is required for pathogenicity
Gorben P Pijlman1, Anneke Funk, Natasha Kondratieva
1School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Cell Host & Microbe
|December 10, 2008
Summary
Flaviviruses generate a unique, structured noncoding RNA from their genome
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Viral noncoding RNAs are crucial for virus-host interactions.
- Flaviviruses are medically significant encephalitic RNA viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and origin of a unique noncoding RNA in Flavivirus.
- To understand the mechanism of virus-induced pathogenicity.
Main Methods:
- West Nile virus as a model organism.
- Analysis of viral genomic RNA degradation by cellular ribonucleases.
- Identification of conserved RNA structures.
Main Results:
- A unique, highly structured 0.3-0.5 kb noncoding RNA is produced from the 3' untranslated region of Flavivirus genomes.
- This subgenomic RNA results from incomplete degradation of viral genomic RNA.
- Conserved RNA structures confer nuclease resistance.
- The noncoding RNA is essential for virus-induced cytopathicity and pathogenicity.
Conclusions:
- Flaviviruses possess a unique strategy to generate a pathogenic noncoding RNA.
- This noncoding RNA enhances the virus's ability to cause disease and kill the host.
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