Molecular characterization of arenavirus defective viral genomes reveals sequence features associated with their formation.

ABSTRACT: Defective viral genomes (DVGs) are byproducts of replication that arise during infection with diverse RNA viruses and can impact virus infection and disease outcome. To gain insight into DVG generation during arenavirus infection, we serially passaged Tacaribe virus at a high multiplicity of infection, which led to the generation of both deletion DVGs (del-DVGs) and copyback DVGs (cb-DVGs). Interestingly, specific combinations of start/stop breakpoints were highly overrepresented, resulting in certain DVGs being highly enriched within the population. Functional characterization of the most prevalent del-DVGs suggests that they are able to compete for interaction with the viral RNA synthesis machinery and that this ability is length-dependent. A closer analysis of the DVG breakpoints used t

SUBMITTER: Hoenen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12817923 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature