Application of minigenome technology in virology research of the Paramyxoviridae family

Minigenomes (MGs) are complementary DNAs of the synthetic analogs of genomic RNA. MGs are widely used to study the life cycle of the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses. MG-based studies have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of viral replication and transcription in this family, including the roles of viral proteins, the location and boundaries of the cis-acting elements, the functional domains of trans-acting proteins, techniques for the measurement of neutralizing antibody, virus–host interactions, and the structure and function of viral RNA. This article provides a brief overview of the principle and application of MG technology in studies involving members of the Paramyxoviridae family. The advantages, potential limitations, and future scope of MG technology are also discussed.