MicroBiology

There are many types of viruses, you must have heard about. A virus is responsible to cause diseased conditions in living organisms. Among the different types of virus, is the RNA Virus. A RNA Virus can be defined as a virus that has the ribonucleic acid (RNA) as its genetic material. This nucleic acid is often single stranded RNA, but there are possibilities of it occurring in double strands, too. The notable diseases caused by the RNA Virus in human beings include influenza, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and hepatitis C.

There are in all six classes of viruses present. Out of them, the DNA virus comprises of the first two classes and the RNA virus makes up the remaining classes. The class III RNA virus features a double stranded RNA genome, class IV ha a single stranded RNA genome that acts as a messenger RNA. The class V has a single stranded RNA genome that is being utilized as a template for the synthesis of the messenger RNA. The class VI viruses are also single stranded genomes of RNA, along with the DNA intermediate in mRNA synthesis as well as replication.

The structure of a RNA Virus is usually similar to that of the other viruses that comprises of a nucleus of the genetic material, basically enclosed in a protective capsid of protein as well as a lipid envelope, in many cases. The life cycle of a RNA Virus depends upon reproduction of the genetic material, host cell, penetration, emergence from the cell, and creation of a protective capsid. The only difference lies in the fact that the genetic data of the RNA Viruses are stored. This has crucial significance and plays a vital role in the life cycle of the virus and gives it the ability to outwit your immune system in the body.

RNA is ideal to store the viral data as it acts as a temporary messenger molecule. Your immune system learns to identify the infecting viruses and thus, they create antibodies against it to destroy them rapidly. Thus, the viruses will no longer be able to utilize that host for reproduction. The RNA molecules are unstable in nature and they have mutagenic factor that enables the RNA virus to progress very rapidly as compared to the DNA virus. The RNA viruses can change their surface structures very often and thus, this mutation makes it very difficult for any organism to build up lasting immunity to that virus.

There are two types of RNA Viruses: one having a sense strand of RNA as their genetic material, they have coded data regarding how to build proteins. And the other type is the antisense strand, this is the paired opposite of the coded data. The only difference between the sense RNA and antisense RNA is the origin of the RNA transcriptase, meaning from where it comes from.

The RNA virus is responsible to cause many infections in human beings. This includes colds, AIDS, rabies, influenza bird flu and HIV.

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