RNA Virus Families: Distinguishing Characteristics, Differences, and Similarities

Abstract

This chapter deals with RNA viruses that infect vertebrates, and highlights how differences between the biology of DNA and RNA viruses and differences among RNA viruses may help to determine how they can be detected by their hosts. Genetic material restricts the way in which RNA viruses can be maintained within infected individuals. The chapter briefly describes general concepts of viral replication that depend on the nature of the RNA genome. Much effort has recently been focused on further characterizing the nature of the nucleic acid ligands and how they are produced in the viral life cycle. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and their ligands and how they relate to the life cycle of different RNA virus families are briefly reviewed in the chapter. Viruses that establish a chronic infection will need to combat a sustained offense provided by the host’s antiviral immune response. The chapter also reviews two remarkably different RNA virus pathogens, foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), to contrast alternate and effective strategies to counteract the innate immune responses of their host.