Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

40.0K
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...
40.0K
Mutations01:39

Mutations

94.6K
Overview
94.6K
Mutations01:35

Mutations

44.6K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
44.6K
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts01:57

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

2.9K
Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...
2.9K
Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

25.2K
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.
25.2K
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

16.8K
Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
16.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genomic surveillance of human metapneumovirus in the United States, 2010-2025.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Host genotype and sex shape influenza evolution and defective viral genomes.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The impact of viral and host factors on the influenza A virus transmission bottleneck.

PLoS pathogens·2026
Same author

The Representativeness of Regional Influenza Virus Genomic Surveillance for National Trends in the United States.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026
Same author

Implementation Does Not Occur in a Vacuum: Sustaining a Comprehensive and Global Vision for HIV Research.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Mutation rate variability in viral populations: Implications for lethal mutagenesis.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Dysregulation of miRNAs has broad impacts on virus infection in <i>Drosophila</i>.

Journal of virology·2026
Same journal

Identification of GRP78 as a novel host factor that facilitates zoonotic porcine deltacoronavirus internalization and replication via clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Journal of virology·2026
Same journal

MGF110-2L deletion prevents IFN-I and inflammatory response, resulting in partial attenuation and protection against virulent ASFV.

Journal of virology·2026
Same journal

Periodic genome sequences facilitate packaging in a single-stranded DNA virus.

Journal of virology·2026
Same journal

A novel monoclonal antibody targeting the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase of peste des petits ruminants virus maintains neutralizing activity by blocking viral adsorption and receptor interaction.

Journal of virology·2026
Same journal

ATG9A is an essential host factor for parechovirus RNA replication.

Journal of virology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

25.0K

Complexities of Viral Mutation Rates.

Kayla M Peck1, Adam S Lauring2,3

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Journal of Virology
|May 4, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viruses evolve quickly due to high mutation rates. This review covers mutation rate estimation, evolutionary drivers, and context-dependent optimal rates for over 25 viruses.

Keywords:
mutation rate evolutionpolymerasepolymerase fidelityviral mutation ratesvirus evolution

More Related Videos

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes
09:35

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

Published on: February 9, 2009

13.4K
Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

30.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

25.0K
Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes
09:35

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

Published on: February 9, 2009

13.4K
Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

30.1K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • Many viruses exhibit rapid evolution, a phenomenon largely attributed to their high intrinsic mutation rates.
  • Existing mutation rate estimates are available for a significant number of viral species, providing a foundation for comparative analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of the population genetics underlying virus mutation rates.
  • To elucidate the factors influencing the evolution of these mutation rates.
  • To discuss the concept of an optimal mutation rate and its dependence on specific viral contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing data on viral mutation rates.
  • Analysis of population genetics principles applied to viral evolution.
  • Discussion of theoretical and empirical studies on mutation rate evolution.

Main Results:

  • Mutation rate estimation methodologies for viruses are diverse and continually refined.
  • Specific evolutionary pressures, such as host immune response and replication strategy, significantly shape mutation rates.
  • The concept of an optimal mutation rate is not universal but varies based on viral life cycle, host, and environmental factors.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding virus mutation rates is crucial for predicting viral evolution and developing effective interventions.
  • The evolution of mutation rates is a complex interplay of genetic drift, selection, and mutational biases.
  • Tailored strategies are necessary to address viruses with differing mutation rate optima.