Practice question

Segmented genomes divide viral nucleic acid into multiple fragments packaged within single particle or distinct particles requiring co-infection for productive replication. Orthomyxoviridae including influenza A virus carry eight negative-sense RNA segments encoding polymerase subunits, hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, nucleoprotein and nonstructural proteins, facilitating genetic reassortment during co-infection leading to antigenic shift responsible for pandemics. Reoviruses have 10-12 dsRNA segments, bunyaviruses three segments. Segmentation contrasts monopartite genomes like poliovirus containing single continuous molecule. Electrophoresis of purified RNA reveals multiple bands diagnostic of segmentation and reassortment potential.