Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
09:26
Production of a SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like-Particle System to Investigate Viral Life Cycles In Vitro
Published on: June 6, 2025
728
Replication and single-cycle delivery of SARS-CoV-2 replicons
Inna Ricardo-Lax1, Joseph M Luna1, Tran Thi Nhu Thao2,3,4
1Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 14, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a novel yeast-based system to create noninfectious, self-replicating SARS-CoV-2 RNAs. This platform enables safe research into severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and antiviral development in lower-containment labs.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Virology
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Molecular virology tools are essential for studying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and developing therapeutics.
- There is a need for experimental systems that do not require infectious, spread-capable viruses, particularly for use in lower-containment laboratory settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a safe and versatile experimental system for SARS-CoV-2 research.
- To create noninfectious, self-replicating RNA constructs for SARS-CoV-2 studies.
- To establish a platform for antiviral drug screening and characterization of viral variants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a yeast-based reverse genetics system.
- Engineered spike-deleted SARS-CoV-2 self-replicating RNAs (replicons).
- Employed trans-complementation with viral glycoproteins to generate replicon delivery particles for single-cycle cell entry.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed noninfectious SARS-CoV-2 replicons.
- Demonstrated the ability to generate replicon delivery particles for versatile cell entry.
- Established a system for single-cycle delivery into various cell types.
Conclusions:
- The developed SARS-CoV-2 replicon system is a convenient and versatile platform.
- This system facilitates antiviral drug screening, neutralization assays, and host factor validation.
- It is also valuable for characterizing emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in a safe manner.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:38S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication
4.9K
The cell cycle is a series of events leading to DNA duplication followed by the division of cell content to form two daughter cells. The cell cycle progresses in four stages—the cell increases in size (gap 1 or G1-phase), duplicates its DNA (synthesis or S-phase), prepares to divide (gap 2 or G2-phase), and divides (mitosis or M-phase).
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of...
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of...
4.9K
01:20Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
475
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
475
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
47.6K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
47.6K
01:16Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
449
The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
449
00:57Viral Recombination
24.0K
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.
24.0K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
233
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...
233