Homologous Recombination in Negative Sense RNA Viruses
Author Information
Author(s): Han Guan-Zhu, Worobey Michael
Primary Institution: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona
Hypothesis
Homologous recombination events are reported among negative sense RNA viruses, but their occurrence is generally rare.
Conclusion
Homologous recombination is suggested to be very rare or even absent in most negative sense RNA viruses, with many reported events likely being artifacts.
Supporting Evidence
- Recombination is generally rare in negative sense RNA viruses.
- Many reported recombination events are likely artifacts due to lab contamination.
- Co-infection experiments are necessary to confirm recombination events.
Takeaway
Scientists studied how some viruses can mix their genes, but they found that this doesn't happen very often, and many times it looks like it does because of mistakes in the lab.
Methodology
The review discusses various recombination detection methods and guidelines for identifying homologous recombination in negative sense RNA viruses.
Potential Biases
Potential for laboratory contamination and sequencing errors leading to false positives.
Limitations
Many reported recombination events may be due to laboratory contamination or inappropriate bioinformatics methods.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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