Beating the swarm

From January's edition of Laboratory News, more information: www.labnews.co.uk

"The RNA viruses such as HIV-1 lack a “proof-reader” in their replication systems, leading to the accumulation of mutations and the persistence of a “quasispecies swarm”, that is the virus population exists as a mixture of genetically distinct variants within the host. This enables the virus to constantly probe its environment for a replicative advantage, although most mutations lead simply to the production of non-functioning viral proteins that have little clinical significance. However, some mutations do result in changes to the proteins that are targeted by antiviral drugs. The result is drug resistance, a major global health issue with important clinical consequences.

Click below to read the full article, originally published in the January 2014 edition of Laboratory News, The Scientists' online newspaper.