Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
31.0K
Virus Variation Resource - improved response to emergent viral outbreaks
Eneida L Hatcher1, Sergey A Zhdanov1, Yiming Bao1
1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|December 1, 2016
Summary
The Virus Variation Resource provides enhanced viral sequence data for influenza, Dengue, Zika, and other viruses. Recent updates improve data access and analysis tools for researchers studying viral evolution and genomics.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- The National Center for Biotechnology Information hosts the Virus Variation Resource, a valuable data repository for viral sequences.
- The resource currently covers seven significant viral groups: influenza virus, Dengue virus, West Nile virus, Ebolavirus, MERS coronavirus, Rotavirus A, and Zika virus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe recent enhancements and new functionalities integrated into the Virus Variation Resource.
- To improve the accessibility and utility of viral sequence data for scientific research.
Main Methods:
- Automated pipelines process newly released GenBank records, annotating genes and proteins.
- Sample descriptors are parsed and mapped to controlled vocabulary for standardized data representation.
- A specialized search interface allows users to query sequences using standardized gene, protein, and metadata terms.
Main Results:
- The resource offers a purpose-built search interface for efficient sequence retrieval.
- Users can perform various data-driven activities, including data downloading, multi-sequence alignment, and phylogenetic tree construction.
- Recently added features and functionalities enhance the resource's capabilities for analyzing viral variation.
Conclusions:
- The updated Virus Variation Resource provides a more robust platform for researchers to explore and analyze viral sequence data.
- These improvements facilitate a deeper understanding of viral evolution, epidemiology, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
00:36Viral Mutations
40.5K
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...
40.5K
00:57Viral Recombination
25.5K
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.
25.5K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
1.2K
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...
1.2K
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
2.3K
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
2.3K
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
660
In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
660