{"title":"Discovering New Jumbo Phage Biology with Cryo-Electron Microscopy.","authors":"Niklas Klusch, Elizabeth Villa","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-102451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-102451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phages invade and replicate in bacteria, resulting in host cell death. In our review, we highlight the impact of electron microscopy on phage research. Recent advances in the field of cryo-electron microscopy, including single-particle analysis, focused ion beam milling, and cryo-electron tomography, play a crucial role in understanding the structure and mechanisms involved in phage replication. Here we focus on jumbo phages, characterized by a large ∼200-kb genome, many of which belong to the new <i>Chimalliviridae</i> family whose genome encodes for a unique replication cycle. Upon phage genome injection into the host cell, the DNA is surrounded by an early phage injection (EPI) vesicle that serves as a hub for initial synthesis of early phage proteins. One of these early proteins, chimallin, forms a nucleus that replaces the EPI vesicle and continues to protect the replicating phage DNA against the host defense systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jean-Sebastien Diana, Thierry Mourer, Chiara Tomasini, Francesca Di Nunzio
{"title":"From Cellular Models to In Vivo Insights on Viral Nuclear Import and Post-Nuclear Entry.","authors":"Jean-Sebastien Diana, Thierry Mourer, Chiara Tomasini, Francesca Di Nunzio","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-110104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-110104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viruses that access the nucleus must navigate the highly regulated barrier of the nuclear envelope via the nuclear pore complex (NPC), a dynamic structure whose size and properties have been recently redefined. Once inside, many viruses exploit the host's nuclear environment to complete critical steps of their life cycle, including reverse transcription, integration, and gene expression. This review explores the evolving understanding of viral nuclear import and post-nuclear entry events, highlighting key insights gained from both cellular models and in vivo systems. We focus particularly on HIV-1, whose capsid plays an active and revolutionary role in nuclear entry and post-nuclear entry processes, including the formation of virus-induced biomolecular condensates, novel nuclear compartments that facilitate canonical reverse transcription and integration. This review underscores the importance of combining structural biology, imaging technologies, and in vivo models to reveal the spatiotemporal logic of nuclear events in viral replication.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roberto Cattaneo, Kalpana Yadav, Rory D de Vries, Rik L de Swart
{"title":"Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: How Measles Virus Adapts to the Brain.","authors":"Roberto Cattaneo, Kalpana Yadav, Rory D de Vries, Rik L de Swart","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-103230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-103230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Measles virus (MeV) infection is mediated by two cellular receptors: signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 1 (SLAMF1, also known as CD150), expressed by immune cells, and nectin-4, expressed by epithelial cells. Infection of immune cells causes systemic disease and immune suppression, while infection of airway epithelial cells results in efficient transmission. In rare cases, MeV reaches the brain and slowly spreads in cells that do not express bona fide receptors, causing subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). In the brains of persons with SSPE, multiple mutations of the MeV membrane fusion apparatus are selected that enable its triggering by host proteins acting as surrogate receptors. These mutations favor cell-to-cell spread, which promotes population-based MeV genome evolution and the formation of collective infectious units (CIUs). CIUs, which can rebalance their components and rapidly adapt to new environments, may support neuropathogenesis of other nonintegrating RNA viruses, in particular those with nonsegmented negative-strand genomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147786427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"For the Love of Poliovirus.","authors":"Eckard Wimmer","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-040205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-040205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this article, I review highlights of my academic background and scientific journey in pursuit of understanding all things related to poliovirus and the molecular mechanisms that lead to an amazingly successful intracellular replication cycle. Although it is not possible to describe all my lab's research findings during the past five decades, I attempt to cover some of our major accomplishments and how they have influenced the field of virology as well as other areas of science.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147693088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Trouble with \"Clean\" Mice: How Infection History Alters Host Immune Responses.","authors":"Magdalena Chlebicz, Tiffany A Reese","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-094931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-094931","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory mice are widely used in biomedical research due to their low cost, genetic tractability, and ease of manipulation. To reduce experimental variability, they are typically housed under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions that limit microbial exposure. While this approach minimizes confounding infections, it also creates an immunological environment that differs markedly from that of humans, reducing the translational relevance of mouse immune studies. This limitation has driven the development of alternative models known as \"dirty\" or microbially experienced (ME) mice. Despite methodological differences, ME models demonstrate that lifelong microbial exposure profoundly shapes immune development. Although immune maturation in these mice is often attributed to microbiome changes, persistent exposure to endemic rodent viruses and other pathogens also may drive sustained immune activation. Here, we review the immune implications of the various ME models and highlight the critical role the virome plays in aligning mouse immune responses more closely with those of humans. Through harnessing microbial experience as a complementary tool to traditional SPF housing conditions and germ-free models, researchers can more faithfully model a mature, pathogen-shaped immune system.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147693070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jordan A Lewis, Paul E Turner, Benjamin K Chan, Gerard Vong
{"title":"Phage Therapy and Global Health Equity: Opportunities in the Era of Antibiotic Resistance.","authors":"Jordan A Lewis, Paul E Turner, Benjamin K Chan, Gerard Vong","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-110310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-110310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite progress in controlling microbial infections, the global burden of pathogenic bacteria remains high. Moreover, the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased and is likely to continue. Consequently, recent research has focused on antibiotic alternatives to slow the proliferation of resistance and improve patient outcomes. One promising approach is phage therapy, which uses lytic viruses of bacteria to treat bacterial infections. However, an underexplored potential benefit is its capacity to enhance health outcomes across the socioeconomic spectrum and improve healthcare equity. Drawing on the history of phage therapy, recent clinical successes, and advancements in research, we argue that phage therapy is well-suited to advance health and healthcare equity. This is because it offers a comparatively greater potential to increase access and reduce disadvantages faced by lower socioeconomic groups relative to conventional antibiotics. Based on these points, we propose research objectives that aim to achieve these scientific and ethical goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147516172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What's in a Name? Upgrading Virus Species Nomenclature.","authors":"Francisco Murilo Zerbini, Jens H Kuhn","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-103106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-103106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Classification and nomenclature of viruses (i.e., virus taxonomy) are regulated by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Nomenclature aims for precise communication, and for that it is essential that names follow standard formats. In virus taxonomy, this is achieved with defined suffixes for each taxonomic rank. However, until recently, there was no standard format for the names of virus species. The use of Latinized (Linnaean) binomials for species names had been an objective of the ICTV since its creation, but for several reasons it had never been implemented. In 2021, after years of discussion and community consultation, the ICTV adopted a binomial format for virus species names, consisting of the genus name followed by a free-form species epithet. After a three-year transition period, all species names have now been converted to binomials. Virus names have not been changed, as they are not regulated by the ICTV.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147505187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mucins and Respiratory Virus Infection.","authors":"Shrestha Mathur, Maria Corkran, Margaret A Scull","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-101927","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100424-101927","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The airway mucus barrier is both the first point of contact between respiratory viruses and the host and a frontline defense system that viruses must overcome prior to infection. Mucin glycoproteins within this barrier protect the underlying epithelium through trapping and clearance mechanisms and influence multiple aspects of viral pathogenesis including inflammation and transmission. Further, changes in mucin expression either associated with preexisting lung disease or induced during infection can affect disease severity. Research over the past century has aided our understanding of secreted and tethered mucin-mediated defenses and revealed insights into specific virus-mucin interactions and the effect of both physical virion attributes and viral glycoprotein function in facilitating mucus penetration. Here we discuss these advancements and highlight efforts to apply current knowledge to the development of mucin-inspired antiviral therapeutics. Still, given the diversity among respiratory viruses and complexity of mucin biology, open questions remain, indicating avenues for continued investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147469796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of VirologyPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-06DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-031014
P A Sylvester, M T Heise
{"title":"The Collaborative Cross as a Model for Studying Viral Infections.","authors":"P A Sylvester, M T Heise","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-031014","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-031014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inbred mouse strains are an invaluable resource for modeling virus-host interactions and studying how specific host genes affect virus-induced disease. However, many viruses cause a spectrum of disease outcomes in humans ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe disease or death. Conventional mouse strains do not recapitulate human genetic diversity and often fail to reproduce the full spectrum of virus-induced disease phenotypes seen in humans. The Collaborative Cross (CC) recombinant inbred mouse population is a genetically diverse set of mouse strains designed to model the genetic and phenotypic diversity seen in human populations. The CC has been used to study the effect of host genetic variation on the pathogenesis of several human viruses, and we review the utility of the CC as a resource both for developing new models of virus-induced disease and for the identification and study of host gene variants that affect susceptibility to virus-induced disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":"401-419"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of VirologyPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-25DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-111016
Audrey Leprince, Sylvain Moineau
{"title":"CRISPR-Cas in the Cheese Industry.","authors":"Audrey Leprince, Sylvain Moineau","doi":"10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-111016","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-111016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacteria have evolved a wide range of defense systems to combat phage infections. In the cheese industry, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used for milk fermentation continuously face threats from phages. Therefore, selecting or developing industrial strains with enhanced phage resistance requires a focus on robust defense systems. Among these systems, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and their CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) are notably prevalent in LAB. The early characterization of this adaptive immune system was closely tied to the cheese industry, particularly with <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> in which CRISPR-Cas systems are ubiquitous and highly active. This review underscores the contributions of <i>S. thermophilus</i> and its virulent phages to our understanding of the function and mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas systems. Additionally, we review the diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems in LAB used in the cheese industry, the counter-defense strategies employed by dairy phages, and the applications of CRISPR-Cas systems within this sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":48761,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Virology","volume":" ","pages":"491-512"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144498783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}