Influenza Virus RNA Structure: Unique and Common Features

Abstract

The influenza A virus genome consists of eight negative-sense RNA segments. Here we review the currently available data on structure-function relationships in influenza virus RNAs. Various ideas and hypotheses about the roles of influenza virus RNA folding in the virus replication are also discussed in relation to other viruses.

Keywords:

• influenza virus
• RNA structure
• negative-sense RNA virus
• segmented RNA genome