Accumulation of copy-back viral genomes during respiratory syncytial virus infection is preceded by diversification of the copy-back viral genome population followed by selection.

ABSTRACT: RNA viruses generate nonstandard viral genomes during their replication, including viral genomes of the copy-back (cbVGs) type that cannot replicate in the absence of a standard virus. cbVGs play a crucial role in shaping virus infection outcomes due to their ability to interfere with virus replication and induce strong immune responses. However, despite their critical role during infection, the principles that drive the selection and evolution of cbVGs within a virus population are poorly understood. As cbVGs are dependent on the virus replication machinery to be generated and replicated, we hypothesized that host factors that affect virus replication exert selective pressure on cbVGs and drive their evolution within a virus population. To test this hypothesis, we used respiratory syncyti

SUBMITTER: Felt SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9615430 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature