Zika virus is just one of many RNA viruses—termed flaviviruses—that are spread by mosquitoes and ticks around the world. These viruses include West Nile virus, which is found in North Carolina.

RNA molecules can undergo chemical modifications—the addition of specific chemical groups—which alter their function and behavior without changing the underlying nucleotide sequence.

The team discovered that this switchover is controlled by tiny RNA molecules, one of which is called “VpdS” (VP882 phage-derived sRNA). “As soon as the phages receive the chemical signal from the ...

A strategy that analyzes the structural properties of RNA could help identify regions that are promising targets for antiviral drugs.

That some virus types contain just RNA strongly suggests that viruses predate cells, Anantharaman said. The virus-first hypothesis is still the most widely accepted among evolutionary biologists.

Our studies with other RNA viruses show that this dimethylcytosine mark also appears following infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), poliovirus, hepatitis C virus and Dengue virus.

A chemical modification in the HIV-1 RNA genome whose function has been a matter of scientific debate is now confirmed to be key to the virus's ability to survive and thrive after infecting host ...

(1) ChatGPT provides a nice explanation of how RNA strand damage contributes to mutation. I didn't dare put this in the article for fear of hate mail. Or worse. "The 2' hydroxyl group is directly ...

Enzymes are natural catalysts that facilitate chemical transformations—in this case, by chopping other molecules apart. But previous DNA- and RNA-based enzymes have struggled to cut long, highly ...

Virusoids are strands of circular RNA that infect hosts by hitching rides on viruses. Once inside, they can replicate and spread undisturbed.

Zika virus is just one of many RNA viruses—termed flaviviruses—that are spread by mosquitoes and ticks around the world. These viruses include West Nile virus, which is found in North Carolina.

A research team has examined in detail the complex interaction of attack and defence strategies when cholera-causing bacteria are infected with a bacteriophage known as VP882 and discovered that tiny ...