Viral transformation 4448546 218142495 2008-06-09T10:12:19Z 78.86.9.206 '''Viral transformation''' most commonly refers to the [[virus]]-induced malignant transformation of an animal [[cell (biology)|cell]] in a body or [[cell culture]]. In [[molecular biology]], the term may also refer to the [[transfection]] of [[DNA]] into a host cell using a [[viral vector]]. ==Virus-induced malignant transformation== {{see also|Malignant transformation}} Viral transformation can impose characteristically determinable features upon a cell. Typical [[phenotype|phenotypic]] changes include: high saturation density, anchorage-independent growth, loss of contact inhibition, loss of orientated growth, immortalisation, disruption of the cell's [[cytoskeleton]]. [[Epidemiological]] studies suggest that malignant transformion of cells by viruses occurs via multiple steps. This involves initiation, promotion and progression events. Viruses act along with other factors to transform cells. The persistence of at least part of the viral [[genome]] within the cell is required for cell transformation. This is accompanied by the continual expression from a number of viral [[gene]]s. These genes interfere with a cell's [[signal transduction|signaling pathway]] causing the observed phenotypic changes of the cell. The end result is a transformed cell showing increased cell division, which is favorable to the virus. ==Transformation using viral vectors== The term [[transformation (genetics)|transformation]] is also used for the introduction of foreign [[DNA]] into cells, which can be achieved using a [[viral vector]] to transfer the DNA. This process is also referred to as [[transfection]] or [[transduction (genetics)|transduction]], respectively. [[Category:Molecular biology]] [[Category:Virology]] [[Category:Microbiology]] {{molecular-cell-biology-stub}}