Virus bioinformatics is evolving and succeeding as an area of research in its own right, representing the interface of virology and computer science. Bioinformatic approaches to investigate viral infections and outbreaks have become central to virology research, and have been successfully used to detect, control, and treat infections of humans and animals. As part of the Third Annual Meeting of the European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), we have published this Special Issue on Virus Bioinformatics.

Virus bioinformatics is evolving and succeeding as an area of research in its own right, representing the interface of virology and computer science. Bioinformatic approaches to investigate viral infections and outbreaks have become central to virology research, and have been successfully used to detect, control, and treat infections of humans and animals. As part of the Third Annual Meeting of the European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), we have published this Special Issue on Virus Bioinformatics.

Since the late 1800s, the discovery of new viruses was a gradual process. Viruses were described one by one using a suite of techniques such as (electron) microscopy and viral culture. Investigators were usually interested in a disease state within an organism, and expeditions in viral ecology were rare. The advent of metagenomics using high-throughput sequencing has revolutionized not only the rate of virus discovery, but also the nature of the discoveries. For example, the viral ecology and etiology of many human diseases are being characterized, non-pathogenic viral commensals are ubiquitous, and the description of environmental viromes is making progress. This Frontiers in Virology Research Topic showcases how metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches have been combined to discover, classify and characterize novel viruses.

Viruses are absolutely and strictly dependent on target host cells for their replication. However, they have their own unique strategies at each replication step from the entry into cells, transcription, translation, assembly of viral genome/proteins, and up to the release of progeny virions from cells. We virologists have to understand these complex biological interactions between viruses and host cells. Importantly, extensive studies based on bio-structural technology have revealed in succession the detailed and bottom line mechanisms of viral replication processes otherwise impossible. We now know the highly dynamic nature of viral genome/proteins, and are impressed by their ingeniously organized functionality in hostile host environments. For characterization of viruses as a unique genetic entity and pathogenic agent, it has been critical to investigate thoroughly the individual viral components and host factors involved in the virus replication cycle. Because many viral and cellular factors essential for viral replication and pathogenicity have been newly discovered through the efforts of virologists, the necessity of contribution to the progress of virology by the structural biology is now greatly increasing. To fully understand precise mechanisms underlying the functional interaction of viral and host molecules, needless to say, it is crucially required to have their structural information. We need to know molecular details of the nucleic acids, proteins, and interacting molecules. The information indispensable for understanding certain biological phenomena may only be provided by high-resolution three-dimensional structures. Of note, a number of anti-viral drugs have been generated based on the structural information. The interacting interfaces between virus and host components, which are important for viral replication, can be potent targets for anti-viral drugs. Their structural characterization would lead to designing rigid anti-viral drugs and/or vaccines. In this Research Topic, we wish to summarize and review what the structural biology has accomplished so far to resolve the important virological issues. We also wish to describe the perspective of the structural biology for the future virology. Finally, the presentation of ongoing original works is greatly encouraged.

Harnessing the Power of Viruses explores the application of scientific knowledge about viruses and their lives to solve practical challenges and further advance molecular sciences, medicine and agriculture. The book contains virus-based tools and approaches in the fields of: i) DNA manipulations in vitro and in vivo; ii) Protein expression and characterization; and iii) Virus- Host interactions as a platform for therapy and biocontrol are discussed. It steers away from traditional views of viruses and technology, focusing instead on viral molecules and molecular processes that enable science to better understand life and offer means for addressing complex biological phenomena that positively influence everyday life. The book is written at an intermediate level and is accessible to novices who are willing to acquire a basic level of understanding of key principles in molecular biology, but is also ideal for advanced readers interested in expanding their biological knowledge to include practical applications of molecular tools derived from viruses. Explores virus-based tools and approaches in DNA manipulation, protein expression and characterization and virus-host interactions Provides a dedicated focus on viral molecules and molecular processes that enable science to better understand life and address complex biological phenomena Includes an overview of modern technologies in biology that were developed using viral components/elements and knowledge about viral processes

Viruses are microscopic and infectious microorganisms that are made up of genetic material enclosed in a protein coating. They cause a variety of serious infectious diseases including influenza, hepatitis, common cold, rabies, AIDS, smallpox, dengue fever and measles. Viruses are classified into four types based on the host cell that they infect, and these include plant viruses, bacteriophages, animal viruses and fungal viruses. Virology is the scientific study of viruses and virus-like agents. The study of viral infections and outbreaks using methods of bioinformatics has become essential to virology research. These methods have been used effectively to diagnose, treat and prevent infections in both animals and humans. Bioinformatics investigations that can be performed on viruses include motif and epitope recognition, homology searching, identification of open reading frames, sequence alignment, and gene prediction. This book provides new insights into virus bioinformatics. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.

A compendium of readily reproducible and novel methods to manipulate DNA viruses and characterize their varied biological properties. The authors emphasize techniques for viral detection and genetics, but also include methods for structure determination, gene expression, replication, pathogenesis, complex cellular models, recombinant genetics, and computational/systems approaches. Wide-ranging and highly practical, DNA Viruses: Methods and Protocols will stimulate new directions in virology research with its novel strategies for engineering viral vectors in gene therapy, and its advanced approaches for detecting viruses in human disease.