Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

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...

Viral Structure

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...

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.

What are Viruses?

What are Viruses?

Viruses of Archaea

Viruses of Archaea

Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Optimizing methods for virome analysis based on studies of a synthetic viral community.

mSystems·2026

Same author

LVV SMRTcap reveals extensive proviral variation in lentiviral vector-transduced CAR T cells.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Neuroepithelial Tumor with AAV Integration after Intracisternal Magna Vector Delivery.

The New England journal of medicine·2026

Same author

Uncovering viral protein acquisition events and human-specific folds with pairwise comparisons of predicted protein structures.

Molecular biology and evolution·2026

Same author

Predictive biomarkers of response to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for pan-haematologic cancer.

Nature biomedical engineering·2026

Same author

Structures of nucleotide-bound Redondovirus Rep protein link conformation and function.

PLoS pathogens·2026

Same journal

Waterborne diseases and climate change.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

Same journal

Climate adaptation and biodiversity shape West Nile virus risk in cities.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

Same journal

Climate factors and evolution drive cholera surges in Dhaka.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

Same journal

Climate change boosts Salmonella antimicrobial resistance.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

Same journal

Reframing risk assessment for malaria elimination in a changing climate.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

Same journal

Bacterial vesicles protect the membrane during polymyxin stress.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus

Published on: October 7, 2011

The human virome: assembly, composition and host interactions.

Guanxiang Liang¹, Frederic D Bushman²

¹Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. liangguanxiang@gmail.com.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology

|March 31, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The human virome, comprising trillions of viruses, is vast and complex. Research reveals viral community states linked to health and disease, with much viral

More Related Videos

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly

Published on: March 1, 2012

Purification of Viral DNA for the Identification of Associated Viral and Cellular Proteins

Purification of Viral DNA for the Identification of Associated Viral and Cellular Proteins

Published on: August 31, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus

Published on: October 7, 2011

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly

Published on: March 1, 2012

Purification of Viral DNA for the Identification of Associated Viral and Cellular Proteins

Purification of Viral DNA for the Identification of Associated Viral and Cellular Proteins

Published on: August 31, 2017

Area of Science:

Virology
Microbiology
Human Microbiome Research

Background:

The human body harbors extensive microbial communities (microbiome).
The human virome, consisting of trillions of viruses, is less understood but equally vast and diverse.
Viruses are the most abundant and diverse biological entities on Earth.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of current human virome research.
To highlight recent studies on virome assembly, composition, and dynamics.
To explore host-virome interactions in health and disease.

Main Methods:

Metagenomic sequencing.
Other advanced molecular techniques for viral identification and characterization.

Main Results:

Clarified aspects of human virome diversity across body sites.
Established links between virome composition and disease states.
Identified mechanisms of virome establishment in early life.
Significant amounts of viral sequence data remain unidentified ('viral dark matter').
Specific viral community states are associated with adverse health outcomes, while others indicate health.

Conclusions:

The human virome plays a significant role in host health and disease.
Further research is needed to explore the vast 'viral dark matter'.
Understanding host-virome interactions is crucial for human health.