Genetic stability and instability of the cis-acting control element of the 5' untranslated region of the poliovirus RNA.
The poliovirus genome exhibits tremendous plasticity, which is particularly evident when mutations diminishing the growth potential are introduced into the genome. An amazing variability can be observed even among the genomes derived from a single plaque. Not less amazing is the stability of the viral RNA sequences, which could be revealed, for example, upon the analysis of populations of a given viral strain separated by many cycles of reproduction in different laboratories but under standard conditions. This stability is obviously due to very strong selection for the "fit" phenotype. Implications of both the stability and instability of the poliovirus genome for the design, production and use of live poliovirus vaccines are briefly discussed.
Agol
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Institute of Poliomyelitis & Viral Encephalitides, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow Region.
D001483:Base Sequence; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication
D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins