The viral genome is the complete set of genetic material carried by a virus, encoded in either DNA or RNA, single- or double-stranded, and serving as the template for replication and for the synthesis of all viral structural and non-structural proteins. Genome organisation underlies viral taxonomy: RNA viruses such …
The viral genome is the complete set of genetic material carried by a virus, encoded in either DNA or RNA, single- or double-stranded, and serving as the template for replication and for the synthesis of all viral structural and non-structural proteins. Genome organisation underlies viral taxonomy: RNA viruses such as coronaviruses possess large positive-sense genomes encoding spike and other glycoproteins, while DNA viruses such as human papillomavirus carry genes that can drive host-cell transformation. Because viral genomes mutate and recombine, their sequencing supports phylogenetic reconstruction, tracking of molecular evolution, surveillance of emerging variants, and rational design of diagnostics, antivirals and vaccines. Research in this area characterises the molecular and evolutionary features of SARS-CoV-2 through spike glycoprotein-coding gene analysis and comparison with other human and animal coronaviruses; reviews the biology of the novel coronavirus and dengue virus; examines the role of human papillomavirus in virus-induced carcinogenesis; investigates evolutionary mechanisms in heat-shock-protein homologue genes of a plant virus; and explores oncolytic viruses engineered as cancer therapeutics. Related work addresses viral pathogenesis, host-cell responses and cell-based therapeutic approaches to infection. The field connects genomics, molecular virology and bioinformatics, using genome structure and sequence variation to explain how viruses replicate, spread, evolve and cause disease.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 20 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Viral Genome, linking to each citing work.