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Viral Mutations

Viral Mutations

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...

Viral Recombination

Viral Recombination

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Generation of Recombinant Influenza Virus from Plasmid DNA

Generation of Recombinant Influenza Virus from Plasmid DNA

Published on: August 3, 2010

Influenza Reverse Genetics-Historical Perspective.

Gabriele Neumann¹

¹Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine

|January 23, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Reverse genetics enables the creation of influenza viruses from cDNA. This molecular virology technique has advanced influenza research, vaccine development, and the study of emerging and extinct viral strains.

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Area of Science:

Molecular virology
Reverse genetics
Influenza virus research

Background:

Reverse genetics is a fundamental technique in molecular virology for generating influenza viruses.
The RNA polymerase I system is a key method for influenza virus reverse genetics.

Observation:

This review details the original RNA polymerase I reverse genetics system.
Modifications to the system have been developed over the years.

Findings:

These reverse genetics technologies facilitate the generation of wild-type, mutant, and reassortant influenza viruses.
Advances include studying extinct viruses and rapid characterization of emerging strains.

Implications:

Enables the development of conventional and novel influenza vaccines.
Crucial for understanding influenza pathogenesis and for public health preparedness.