Virulence genes of poxviruses and reoviruses

Abstract

Identification of viral genes that specify virulence, however defined, is of critical importance for the design of viral vaccines. In particular, the targeted development not only of avirulent vaccine strains but also of viruses to be used as carriers for foreign genes depends on the inactivation or deletion of genes that harm the host. This paper illustrates approaches to identifying viral pathogenesis genes in two model systems involving cowpox virus and reovirus, respectively.