RNA Virus Genomes

Abstract

Abstract RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses are the most abundant group of molecular parasites that infect humans, animals and plants. They are associated with important diseases such as human influenza, newly emerging haemorrhagic fevers or several forms of hepatitis. Virus particles are disparate in size, shape and composition, and enclose an RNA genome that can be either single stranded, double stranded, nonsegmented or segmented. Application of deep sequencing methodologies has unveiled their great abundance and ubiquity. The structural diversity of viral RNA is reflected in differences in their replication cycles that are completed through complex interactions between viral and host proteins. RNA viruses share error‐prone replication that confers on them the capacity to adapt to a wide range of environments. Despite considerable progress in the understanding of virus structure and expression of their genetic programmes, the success of preventive and control strategies has been limited. Application of Darwinian principles to RNA viruses might result in new approaches for viral disease control. Key Concepts RNA viruses are the most abundant group of cellular parasites. RNA viruses are associated with many established, emerging and reemerging infections. RNA viral genomes are diverse in structure and nucleotide sequences. Application of deep sequencing has confirmed an extreme diversity of individual viral populations. RNA viruses evolve following Darwinian principles. RNA virus adaptability demands new approaches for the control of viral disease. Lethal mutagenesis is a new antiviral strategy based on extinguishing a virus by excess mutations.