Viral nucleic acid

Viral nucleic acid refers to the genetic material of a virus, which can be either DNA or RNA but never both in the same virion. The nucleic acid carries the instructions necessary for the production of viral proteins and the replication of the virus within a host cell. Viral nucleic acids are encapsulated within a proteinaceous capsid and, in some cases, an additional lipid envelope. Antiviral therapies often target viral nucleic acids directly (via nucleoside analogs that cause chain termination during replication) or indirectly by inhibiting viral enzymes responsible for synthesizing new viral genetic material. Because "viral nucleic acid" is a class term inclusive of many different genome types, it is not a precise therapeutic target but remains a central concept in virology and antiviral drug design[1][3][4][5][7].

Other names

Viral genomeViral genetic materialVirus nucleic acidViral DNAViral RNA

Chain termination during replication (nucleoside/tide analogs) - Inhibition of viral RNA/DNA-directed polymerases - Disruption of RNA structure/translation (direct RNA binders)[2][10] - Inhibition of viral genome integration (for retroviruses)