What makes viruses infectious?
Thought LeadersProfessor Peter StockleyProfessorUniversity of Leeds
In this interview, News-Medical spoke to Professor Peter Stockley about his latest research that looked at what makes viruses infectious.
What provoked your research into viruses?
I started life as a chemistry student but realized that the chemistry of life was more of interest. Viruses straddle the line between a living and non-living life cycle and so are fascinating objects, especially in their ability to encode the repeated building of the non-living protective “lifeboat” we call a virus.
Please can you give an overview into what viruses are and how they spread?
Updated Jan 11, 2021 | 11:52 IST
For the first time, researchers have identified how viruses such as the poliovirus, and the common cold virus are able to package up their genetic code, allowing them to infect cells. In a first, researchers identify how viruses affect human cells by packaging up their genetic code | Photo Credit: iStock Images
Key Highlights
How do disease-causing viruses spread within the body has been a subject of research for many years
Viruses are a family of pathogens responsible for many diseases and infections
For the first time, researchers have identified how viruses can replicate, and infect human cells
Researchers unravel the process that makes viruses infectious
Researchers have for the first time identified the way viruses like the poliovirus and the common cold virus package up their genetic code, allowing them to infect cells.
The findings, published today (Friday, 8 January) in the journal
PLOS Pathogens by a team from the Universities of Leeds and York, open up the possibility that drugs or anti-viral agents can be developed that would stop such infections.
Once a cell is infected, a virus needs to spread its genetic material to other cells. This is a complex process involving the creation of what are known as virions - newly-formed infectious copies of the virus. Each virion is a protein shell containing a complete copy of the virus s genetic code. The virions can then infect other cells and cause disease.
E-Mail
IMAGE: Capsid protein pentamers (subunits colour-coded) being recruited to the growing protein shell (brown) during virion assembly by formation of sequence-specific contacts between the genome (packaging signals shown as orange space-filled. view more
Credit: University of Leeds
Researchers have for the first time identified the way viruses like the poliovirus and the common cold virus package up their genetic code, allowing them to infect cells.
The findings, published today (Friday, 8 January) in the journal
PLOS Pathogens by a team from the Universities of Leeds and York, open up the possibility that drugs or anti-viral agents can be developed that would stop such infections.