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Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Introduction to Virus01:28

Introduction to Virus

Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
Human Virome01:26

Human Virome

The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
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What are Viruses?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
08:56

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes

Published on: July 27, 2018

ViralZone: a knowledge resource to understand virus diversity.

Chantal Hulo1, Edouard de Castro, Patrick Masson

  • 1Swiss-Prot group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Centre Médical Universitaire, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.

Nucleic Acids Research
|October 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary

ViralZone is a web resource that simplifies viral gene function interpretation by integrating textbook knowledge with genomic and proteomic data. It offers fact sheets, reference strains, and virion images for all known virus families.

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Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
08:56

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes

Published on: July 27, 2018

Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone
07:35

Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone

Published on: June 7, 2017

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
08:31

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Genomics
  • Proteomics

Background:

  • The vast molecular diversity of viruses presents challenges in interpreting genomic and proteomic data.
  • Understanding viral gene function requires knowledge of host range, replication cycles, and virion structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create a comprehensive resource that integrates established virology knowledge with sequence data.
  • To facilitate the interpretation of viral genomic and proteomic information for researchers.

Main Methods:

  • Development of the ViralZone web resource (www.expasy.org/viralzone).
  • Compilation of fact sheets for all known virus families and genera.
  • Inclusion of a curated selection of reference strains (RefStrain) with annotations.

Main Results:

  • ViralZone provides accessible fact sheets and sequence data for numerous viruses.
  • The RefStrain selection offers standardized data to manage the growing volume of viral sequences.
  • Detailed and accurate virion images are available within the resource.

Conclusions:

  • ViralZone serves as a valuable tool for researchers seeking to understand viral gene functions.
  • The resource effectively bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and sequence-based analysis in virology.
  • It aids in navigating the complexity of viral data by providing curated information and standards.