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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
Published on: July 27, 2018
Identification, functional analysis, and clinical applications of defective viral genomes
Xiaowei Yan1, Yitong Pan2, Peiying Li1
1BSL-3 Laboratory (Guangdong), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Defective viral genomes (DVGs) are fragments derived from defective interfering particles (DIPs) that form during viral replication. They play important roles by interfering with complete virus replication and regulating host immune responses. Advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatic technology have significantly improved the ability to identify DIPs and DVGs. Their heterogeneity and dynamic formation mechanisms have been analyzed using long-read sequencing technologies. Both DIPs and DVGs inhibit wild-type viral proliferation by competing for viral replication resources and activating innate immune pathways such as those of retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 and mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein. This might influence infection outcomes by regulating inflammatory cytokine storms. The clinical application of DIPs and DVGs in their natural attenuated virus forms has been investigated in terms of novel vaccine design and antiviral therapy. This report systematically reviews cutting-edge detection techniques, molecular mechanisms, and translational medicine advances of DIPs and DVGs and provides a theoretical basis for developing broad-spectrum antiviral strategies based on DIPs.
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