Seeking Membranes: Positive-Strand RNA Virus Replication Complexes

Viruses containing RNA genomes, or RNA viruses, constitute an extensive genetic group of plant, animal, and human viruses. RNA viruses include many viruses that are important human pathogens, and have been shown to have the ability to move from animals to humans, resulting in zoonotic-human epidemics. RNA viruses that contain single-stranded RNA genomes of positive polarity are known as positive-strand RNA (+RNA) viruses. +RNA virus families of animals and humans include the Coronaviridae (SARS-coronavirus), Picornaviridae (poliovirus, hepatitis A), Flaviviridae (dengue, West Nile virus) and Togaviridae (Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, rubella virus). The objective of this Primer is to focus on established and new approaches to understand the interface of +RNA virus replication and cell biology.