What is an RNA virus? Details

What is an RNA virus?

What is an RNA virus?

RNA virus is a kind of virus and belongs to the first class. Their genetic material is RNA ribonucleic acid. Usually its nucleic acid is single-stranded (ssRNA ), but also double-stranded (dsRNA ). Single-stranded RNA virus can be divided into positive translation, negative translation and double translation according to their translation meaning. RNA virus The positive translation RNA virus is similar to mRNA and can be directly translated into protein by the ribosome; the negative translation RNA virus requires the action of RNA polymerase to synthesize the positive translation RNA complementary to itself using itself as a template, and then use this RNA as the mRNA translates protein. 

Plant virus, with a few exceptions (eg, cauliflower mosaic virus, Caulif-lower mosaic virus), are almost all RNA virus. RNA viruses have two replication modes: self-replication and reverse transcription. During the replication process of viral RNA, the enzyme activity of its error repair mechanism is very low, almost non-existent, so its mutation is rapid. Vaccines are developed based on the fixed genes or proteins of the virus, so it is difficult to develop RNA virus vaccines. Compared with DNA viruses, RNA viruses are more likely to cause disease, more lethal to the host, and easier to mutate, so there are more types, and it is more difficult to develop effective vaccines and prevent them. The resistance of RNA viruses is generally weaker than that of DNA viruses, and it is easier to cure. But there are exceptions. For example, the resistance of double-stranded RNA viruses is very strong, and the cure of retroviruses is extremely difficult. 

Common RNA viruses are: HIV (retrovirus), hepatitis C virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, all influenza viruses, rhinovirus, polio virus, coxsackie virus, dengue virus, rotavirus, Tobacco mosaic virus, SARS virus, MERS virus, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, a small number of bacteriophages (most bacteriophages are DNA viruses), novel coronavirus (COVID-19), etc. 

Difference Between RNA Virus and DNA Virus

Both RNA and DNA viruses can cause hepatitis, hepatitis C is caused by RNA viruses, and hepatitis B is caused by DNA viruses. 

The "bottleneck" of hepatitis C virus vaccine development appears in the form of RNA virus. DNA morphology is usually relatively stable, therefore, the replication of DNA virus is highly consistent with the "original" DNA, so many vaccines for hepatitis B virus prevention can be developed. In contrast, RNA viruses, which erroneously "spell check" during replication, mutate a million times faster than DNA viruses, and change shape frequently. This makes it difficult to develop vaccines for RNA viruses such as hepatitis C. Even if a hepatitis C virus vaccine is developed one day, new vaccines will continue to be developed every year based on the emerging mutant hepatitis C virus. 

Hepatitis C is unpredictable and harmful to human health. How can we protect ourselves from hepatitis C infection? The best way is to understand early on the nature of RNA lethal viruses and how they infect and spread. Early diagnosis and treatment is also necessary, and the only way to tell if you have HCV infection is to have a HCV test to ensure treatment is given before the virus hits the liver. Experts recommend that hepatitis C antibody testing in high-risk groups of hepatitis C is urgent. People with a history of blood transfusions or intravenous drug use, multiple sexual partners, as well as medical staff, beauticians, dentists, and police officers who often come into contact with blood should consider getting tested for hepatitis C. 

RNA/DNA virus extraction system and detection supplier:

Geneture medical specialized in the field of nucleic acid extraction  and PCR detection system, main products involved in：

1.Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit (Magnetic beads method)

2.Nucleic Acid Extractor （32T, 96T）

3.PCR fluorescence quantitative analyzer (16T, 96T)

4.PCR detection reagent

5.SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid test kit

6.Lab consumables: deep well plate, mag-rod sleeve, pipette tips, VTM, swabs, PCR tubes, PCR plate, centrifuge tubes, cryogenic Vials, saliva collection and so on.

Please don’t hesitate to contact with us to get a quotation.