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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
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Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

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Picornavirus morphogenesis

Ping Jiang1, Ying Liu1, Hsin-Chieh Ma1

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR
|September 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Picornaviruses assemble via a protein-protein interaction, not an RNA signal, revealing new insights into viral morphogenesis. This study details encapsidation intermediates, factors, and inhibitors for these disease-causing RNA viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Picornaviridae are small, plus-strand RNA viruses responsible for significant human and animal diseases.
  • Viral morphogenesis, particularly encapsidation, is poorly understood due to its coupling with translation and replication.
  • Previous studies on enteroviruses, like poliovirus, provide limited mechanistic details on assembly regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and summarize current knowledge on picornavirus morphogenesis and encapsidation.
  • To elucidate the mechanism and regulatory factors governing viral assembly.
  • To present a model for enterovirus encapsidation and compare it with other plus-strand RNA viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on picornavirus assembly and related plus-strand RNA viruses.
  • Analysis of recent findings, particularly regarding poliovirus encapsidation specificity.
  • Synthesis of information on encapsidation intermediates, factors, and inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Picornavirus encapsidation specificity is unexpectedly governed by viral protein-protein interactions.
  • This interaction does not rely on a canonical RNA packaging signal, challenging previous assumptions.
  • The review covers key aspects including intermediates, specificity determinants, viral/cellular factors, and inhibitors.

Conclusions:

  • Viral protein interactions play a crucial role in governing the specificity of picornavirus encapsidation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms offers potential targets for antiviral strategies.
  • Further research is needed to fully delineate the complexities of picornavirus morphogenesis.

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