Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
18:10
Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
Published on: June 16, 2011
30.9K
Variation in RNA virus mutation rates across host cells.
Marine Combe1, Rafael Sanjuán2
1Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Valencia, Spain.
Plos Pathogens
|January 28, 2014
Summary
RNA virus mutation rates vary, but host cell type has minimal impact. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) mutates slower in insect cells than mammalian cells, potentially explaining slow evolution.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- RNA viruses exhibit higher mutation rates than DNA viruses, but causes of variability are unclear.
- Viral mutation rates may be influenced by host factors beyond intrinsic viral mechanisms.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for predicting viral evolution and disease dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the cellular environment on the spontaneous mutation rate of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).
- To determine if host cell type, immortalization, or oxygen levels affect VSV mutation rates.
- To compare VSV mutation rates in mammalian versus insect cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Luria-Delbrück fluctuation tests to quantify spontaneous mutation rates.
- Employed sequencing to analyze viral genetic changes.
- Assessed VSV mutation rates across diverse mammalian cell lines and insect cells.
Main Results:
- VSV exhibited consistent mutation rates (approx. 10^-5 s/n/r) across various mammalian cell types.
- Cell immortalization and oxygen levels (1-21%) did not significantly alter VSV replication fidelity.
- VSV mutation rates were approximately four times lower in insect cells compared to mammalian cells.
Conclusions:
- Published VSV mutation rates are reliable despite laboratory conditions.
- Host cell type, specifically insect vs. mammalian, significantly influences VSV mutation rates.
- Slower mutation in insect cells may explain the slow evolution of arthropod-borne viruses like VSV.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
33.0K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
33.0K
01:18Mutations in Microorganisms
1.2K
Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
1.2K
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
1.2K
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...
1.2K
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
6.2K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
6.2K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
1.5K
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...
1.5K
02:28Leaky Scanning
4.5K
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
4.5K