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Related Concept Videos

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Viral Recombination

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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.
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Experimental RNAi02:15

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RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
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RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
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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...
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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
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RNA Interference in Mammals: The Virus Strikes Back.

Bryan R Cullen1

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Immunity
|June 22, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian antiviral defense relies on RNA interference (RNAi), but its effectiveness is debated. New data indicate that viruses employ potent RNAi suppressors, explaining why RNAi is hard to detect during infections.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The role of RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian antiviral defense has been a subject of ongoing scientific debate.
  • Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the significance of RNAi during viral infections in mammals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reasons behind the difficulty in detecting RNA interference (RNAi) during mammalian viral infections.
  • To explore the potential impact of viral factors on the observable activity of RNAi.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of viral gene expression in infected mammalian cells.
  • Assessment of RNA interference pathway activity under varying viral loads.
  • Identification and characterization of viral proteins that may interfere with RNAi.

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Main Results:

  • The study presents evidence suggesting that viral suppressors of RNAi are highly effective in infected mammalian cells.
  • These viral suppressors significantly impede the detection and apparent function of the RNAi machinery.
  • The presence of these suppressors explains the previously observed challenges in demonstrating RNAi's antiviral role.

Conclusions:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) is an active antiviral defense mechanism in mammals.
  • Viral RNAi suppressors play a critical role in overcoming this host defense.
  • The effectiveness of viral suppressors accounts for the controversial status and detection difficulties of RNAi in antiviral contexts.