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Updated: Nov 14, 2025

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection
Published on: January 26, 2019
Novel Negative Sense Genes in the RNA Genome of Coronaviruses
O P Zhirnov1,2, S V Poyarkov3
1Russian-German Academy of Medico-Social and Biotechnological Sciences, Moscow, Russia. zhirnov@inbox.ru.
Abstract:
The coronavirus family consists of lipid-containing envelope viruses that have a single-stranded RNA genome that encodes 25-30 proteins in different viruses by the mechanism of positive-polarity strategy. In addition, extended open reading trnslation frames (ORFs, genes) located in a negative-sense orientation were found in the genomes of coronaviruses. The size of negative-sense genes varies in the range of 150-450 nt, which corresponds to polypeptides encoded by negative-polarity genes (negative gene proteins, NGP) with m. m. 5-30 × 103 kDa. Coronaviruses show marked differences from virus to virus in the number of negative genes detected. These negative-sense genes in the coronavirus genome allow this family to be considered as viruses developing an ambisense genome strategy.
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