Towards the Development of a Minigenome Assay for Species A Rotaviruses.

RNA virus polymerases carry out multiple functions necessary for successful genome replication and transcription. A key tool for molecular studies of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) is a 'minigenome' or 'minireplicon' assay, in which viral RdRps are reconstituted in cells in the absence of full virus infection. Typically, plasmids expressing the viral polymerase protein(s) and other co-factors are co-transfected, along with a plasmid expressing an RNA encoding a fluorescent or luminescent reporter gene flanked by viral untranslated regions containing -acting elements required for viral RdRp recognition.