The defective component of viral populations.

Abstract

Particles containing degenerate forms of the viral genome which interfere with virus replication and are non-replicative per se are known as defective interfering particles (DIPs). DIPs are likely to be produced upon infection by any virus in vitro and in nature. Until recently, roles of these non-viable particles as members of a multi-component viral system have been overlooked. In this review, we cover the most recent studies that shed light on critical roles of DIPs during the course of infection, including: the modulation of virus replication, innate immune responses, disease outcome and virus persistence, as well as the evolution of the viral population. Together, these reports allow us to conceive a more complete picture of the virion population, and highlight the fact that DIPs are not a negligible subset of this population but instead can greatly influence the fate of infection.

• Authors: Veronica V Rezelj, Laura I Levi, Marco Vignuzzi
• Journal: Current opinion in virology (Curr Opin Virol) Vol. 33 Pg. 74-80 (12 2018) ISSN: 1879-6265 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 30099321 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Defective Viruses (genetics)
• Evolution, Molecular
• Genetics, Population
• Population Dynamics
• Virus Replication
• Viruses (genetics, growth & development, immunology)