4.6 Article

Why does viral RNA sometimes persist after recovery from acute infections?

Journal

PLOS BIOLOGY
Volume 20, Issue 6, Pages -

Publisher

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001687

Keywords

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Funding

  1. U.S. National Institutes of Health [R01 NS038932, R01 NS87539, R01 AI131228, R21 AI095981, R01 AI153140]
  2. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

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Most RNA viruses are cleared from the host after acute infections, but viral RNA can sometimes persist after recovery, leading to various consequences. The exact reasons for this persistence and its implications are not yet fully understood.
DNA viruses often persist in the body of their host, becoming latent and recurring many months or years later. By contrast, most RNA viruses cause acute infections that are cleared from the host as they lack the mechanisms to persist. However, it is becoming clear that viral RNA can persist after clinical recovery and elimination of detectable infectious virus. This persistence can either be asymptomatic or associated with late progressive disease or nonspecific lingering symptoms, such as may be the case following infection with Ebola or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Why does viral RNA sometimes persist after recovery from an acute infection? Where does the RNA come from? And what are the consequences?

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