Viral RNA mutagenesis

Viral RNA mutagenesis is a biological process wherein errors are introduced into the RNA genome of a virus, either spontaneously due to the inherently low fidelity of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases or purposefully by antiviral drugs such as molnupiravir[1][2]. Therapeutic induction of high mutation rates in viral RNA can push the virus towards "error catastrophe," reducing its ability to replicate and survive[1]. While this process is a focus of antiviral drug research, it is not a single molecule or receptor, but a phenomenon that can be modulated for therapeutic benefit. Drugs such as molnupiravir are incorporated into viral RNA, pairing ambiguously during replication and causing lethal mutations that prevent the formation of viable viruses[1]. No specific protein or gene serves as a biomarker; monitoring of viral genome mutational spectrum or mutation frequency may serve as a biomarker in research. For the purpose of molecular target classification, "Viral RNA mutagenesis" should not be indexed as a canonical drug target. When structuring databases, link drugs like molnupiravir to their direct molecular target, such as "Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase," which mediates this process[1].

Other names

RNA virus mutagenesisviral mutagenesiserror catastrophe (in the context of therapeutic mutagenesis)

Lethal mutagenesis: drugs introduce mutations into viral RNA during replication, reducing viral fitness or causing "error catastrophe"[1][5]. Polymerase fidelity reduction.