Positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus (or (+)ssRNA virus) is a virus which has positive sense single stranded RNA as its genetic material. They can be positive or negative. This depends on the polarity of the RNA. The positive-sense viral RNA genome can serve as messenger RNA and can be translated into protein in the host cell.

Many of the known viruses are positive-sense RNA viruses, including the hepacivirus C, West Nile virus, dengue virus, SARS and MERS coronaviruses, and SARS-CoV-2 as well as less serious pathogens such as the rhinoviruses that cause the common cold.

Images for kids

Mechanisms of replicative and nonreplicative RNA recombination.
Phylogenetic tree with phylum branches highlighted. Negarnaviricota (brown), Duplornaviricota (green), Kitrinoviricota (pink), Pisuviricota (blue), and Lenarviricota (yellow).
False-color Transmission electron micrograph of a SARS-CoV-2 virion. Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 fall in the phylum Pisuviricota.

See also

In Spanish: Virus ARN monocatenario positivo para niños

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Positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.