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A Brief Introduction to Virology
Published in Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, Allison B. Kavey, Viral Pandemics, 2020
Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, Allison B. Kavey
As early as the mid-1930s, researchers began studying bacteriophage, a type of virus which only infects bacteria. Bacteriophage do not cause disease in humans and multiply rapidly in large numbers so they are ideal subjects for the study of viruses. Beginning with EM visualization, Max Delbruck and Salvador Luria, young researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, described the process of viral replication.17 Outside of a host cell, they showed that a virus was metabolically inert, but when contact was made, the virus inserted its genetic material and took over the cell’s functions. Newly created virus components were assembled into thousands of new viruses – called virions – which left the host cell, either by bursting through the call membrane and killing the host cell, or by budding through the cell membrane, in which case the cell survived and could function as a viral reservoir.18 In either case, the released virions then went on to infect new host cells. Over the next several decades, viruses were found to use cell-surface glycoproteins to recognize and bind to specific protein or carbohydrate receptors on a host cell’s outer surface. This complex process is the mandatory, initiating step in cell infection and the identification of virus receptors and the characterization of virus–receptor interactions remains an important research target in virology.19
Diagnosing Viral Infections
Published in Firza Alexander Gronthoud, Practical Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2020
Diagnosis of bacterial infections depends on isolating microbes from a specimen collected from the site of infection. Viruses, on the other hand, may disseminate from one site to another during the course of infection. The indication for virology testing, specimen type, the choice between serology or PCR and timing of specimen collection is intrinsically linked to the clinical syndrome and the stage of infection. It is therefore worthwhile to consider the following.
Introduction to virus structure, classification, replication, and hosts
Published in Avindra Nath, Joseph R. Berger, Clinical Neurovirology, 2020
Philippe Simon, Kevin M. Coombs
Viral replication is a complex process that is being heavily investigated using both traditional virology as well as systems biology approaches. Modern techniques such as RNA microarrays, next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics have combined with advances in bioinformatics, led to a better understanding of virus–host interactions. Still, there is great diversity in methods employed by different viruses, with adaptations depending not only on the types of cells they can infect but also on the specific replicative machinery each virus carries and the context of the host immunological response. Furthermore, the current inability to culture some viruses in the laboratory contributes to lack of understanding of their replication cycles.
Molecular engineering tools for the development of vaccines against infectious diseases: current status and future directions
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2023
Wenhui Xue, Tingting Li, Ying Gu, Shaowei Li, Ningshao Xia
The utilization of viral vectors for gene therapy dates back to the early days of virology [143]. However, due to the continuous evolution of virology, viral vectors have now become important engineering tools that facilitate the creation of a diverse array of innovative vector vaccines (Figure 3b) [144]. By introducing target antigen sequences at appropriate positions in the viral vector, the vector can deliver the antigen to host cells, thereby triggering a comprehensive immune response [145]. Among the various vector tools available, replication-defective viruses such as adenovirus, lentivirus, and poxvirus are particularly attractive for vaccine development due to their safety, wide range of host cells, low vector immunogenicity, and ability to express exogenous genes for prolonged periods in vivo [146].
Comparison of two point-of-care respiratory panels for the detection of influenza A/B virus
Published in Infectious Diseases, 2023
Alexandros Zafiropoulos, Aspasia Dermitzaki, Nikos Malliarakis, Marina Stamataki, Maria Ergazaki, Evangelia Xenaki, Maria-Eleni Parakatselaki, George Sourvinos
Diagnostic strategies in clinical virology laboratories of major tertiary health providers, which monitor large population segments, are evolving rapidly, tracing equally rapid advances in molecular biology technologies. During the last decade, we have experienced movement of diagnostic resources from indirect serological detection assays to direct methods, such as virus antigen and genome detection, as well as cell cultures for virus isolation and identification. Molecular diagnostic procedures have prevailed, due to their superior specificity and sensitivity, their reduced turnaround time [1] and the ease of integration in automated systems when compared to previous methodologies. As a result, a multitude of molecular assays approved for human viral diagnosis are currently marketed and included in clinical virology laboratories around the world.
What are the considerations when selecting a model for influenza drug discovery?
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 2023
Woo-Jin Shin, Seongil Choi, Baik-Lin Seong
The discovery and development of antiviral drugs begins with knowledge in virology, and in particular, how the virus infects the host cells and how the virus interacts/utilizes the host protein within the cells [7]. In the case of segmented negative-stranded RNA viruses (sNSVs), viral RNA forms a complex with viral polymerase and nucleoprotein to form a viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex. Influenza viruses utilize viral neuraminidase, the prime antiviral target for NAIs, that cleaves the host receptor sialic acid to release the newly assembled virions from the infected cells at the later stage of infection [8]. To determine whether the target of interest can be interfered with to cripple viral replication, methods such as reverse genetics [9] or CRISPR screening [10] can be implemented. When selecting a model that is efficient for antiviral drug discovery, several considerations must be made. These considerations, in combination with a knowledge of chemical biology, will accelerate future drug design and discovery. We list below some of the important points that must be considered.