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Current Opinion in Virology Dec 2022The Bunyavirales order is the largest grouping of RNA viruses, comprising emerging and re-emerging human, plant and animal pathogens. Bunyaviruses have a global... (Review)
Review
The Bunyavirales order is the largest grouping of RNA viruses, comprising emerging and re-emerging human, plant and animal pathogens. Bunyaviruses have a global distribution and many members of the order are transmitted by arthropods. They have evolved a plethora of mechanisms to manipulate the regulatory processes of the infected cell to facilitate their own replicative cycle, in hosts of disparate phylogenies. Interest in virus-vector interactions is growing rapidly. However, current understanding of tick-borne bunyavirus cellular interaction is heavily biased to studies conducted in mammalian systems. In this short review, we summarise current understandings of how tick-borne bunyaviruses utilise major cellular pathways (innate immunity, apoptosis and RNAi responses) in mammalian or tick cells to facilitate virus replication.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Orthobunyavirus; Host Microbial Interactions; Bunyaviridae; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Bunyaviridae Infections; Mammals
PubMed: 36375406
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101278 -
PLoS Pathogens Jan 2023Bunyaviruses are negative sense, single-strand RNA viruses that infect a wide range of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant hosts. WHO lists three bunyavirus diseases as... (Review)
Review
Bunyaviruses are negative sense, single-strand RNA viruses that infect a wide range of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant hosts. WHO lists three bunyavirus diseases as priority diseases requiring urgent development of medical countermeasures highlighting their high epidemic potential. While the viral large (L) protein containing the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a key enzyme in the viral replication cycle and therefore a suitable drug target, our knowledge on the structure and activities of this multifunctional protein has, until recently, been very limited. However, in the last few years, facilitated by the technical advances in the field of cryogenic electron microscopy, many structures of bunyavirus L proteins have been solved. These structures significantly enhance our mechanistic understanding of bunyavirus genome replication and transcription processes and highlight differences and commonalities between the L proteins of different bunyavirus families. Here, we provide a review of our current understanding of genome replication and transcription in bunyaviruses with a focus on the viral L protein. Further, we compare within bunyaviruses and with the related influenza virus polymerase complex and highlight open questions.
Topics: Bunyaviridae; Orthobunyavirus; RNA; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication
PubMed: 36634042
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011060 -
Viruses Apr 2023"The Power of We" is a personal tribute to the individuals and organizations that collaborated in the discovery and advancement of knowledge of the hantaviruses...
"The Power of We" is a personal tribute to the individuals and organizations that collaborated in the discovery and advancement of knowledge of the hantaviruses following the original isolation of Hantaan virus by Ho Wang Lee. It focuses on the work done primarily at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases during the decade of the 1980s under the leadership of Joel Dalrymple, who worked in close partnership with Ho Wang Lee. These early studies helped define the global distribution of Seoul virus and provided seminal information on its maintenance and transmission among urban rats. Other collaborations involved partners in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and resulted in the isolation of novel hantaviruses, a better understanding of their global distribution, and validation of diagnostics and therapeutic interventions for treatment of human diseases. By working in partnership, scientists from around the world made critical discoveries that led to a better understanding of the hantaviruses. "The Power of We" demonstrates that we all benefit when we work together with a shared vision, a common commitment to excellence, and mutual respect.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Rats; Asia; Europe; Hantaan virus; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome; Orthohantavirus; Seoul virus; History, 20th Century
PubMed: 37112901
DOI: 10.3390/v15040921 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Oct 2020The Orthobunyavirus genus comprises a wide range of arthropod-borne viruses which are prevalent worldwide and commonly associated with central nervous system (CNS)... (Review)
Review
The Orthobunyavirus genus comprises a wide range of arthropod-borne viruses which are prevalent worldwide and commonly associated with central nervous system (CNS) disease in humans and other vertebrates. Several orthobunyaviruses have recently emerged and increasingly more will likely do so in the future. Despite this large number, an overview of these viruses is currently lacking, making it challenging to determine importance from a One Health perspective. Causality is a key feature of determining importance, yet classical tools are unfit to evaluate the causality of orthobunyaviral CNS disease. Therefore, we aimed to provide an overview of orthobunyaviral CNS disease in vertebrates and objectify the causality strength of each virus. In total, we identified 27 orthobunyaviruses described in literature to be associated with CNS disease. Ten were associated with disease in multiple host species of which seven included humans. Seven viruses were associated with both congenital and postnatal CNS disease. CNS disease-associated orthobunyaviruses were spread across all known Orthobunyavirus serogroups by phylogenetic analyses. Taken together, these results indicate that orthobunyaviruses may have a common tendency to infect the CNS of vertebrates. Next, we developed six tailor-made causality indicators and evaluated the causality strength of each of the identified orthobunyaviruses. Nine viruses had a 'strong' causality score and were deemed causal. Eight had a 'moderate' and ten a 'weak' causality score. Notably, there was a lack of case-control studies, which was only available for one virus. We, therefore, stress the importance of proper case-control studies as a fundamental aspect of proving causality. This comprehensible overview can be used to identify orthobunyaviruses which may be considered causal, reveal research gaps for viruses with moderate to low causality scores, and provide a framework to evaluate the causality of orthobunyaviruses that may newly emerge in the future.
Topics: Animals; Bunyaviridae Infections; Central Nervous System Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Humans; Orthobunyavirus
PubMed: 33112863
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008856 -
Viruses Aug 2022Batai virus (BATV) is a zoonotic orthobunyavirus transmitted by a wide range of mosquito vectors. The virus is distributed throughout Asia and parts of Africa and has... (Review)
Review
Batai virus (BATV) is a zoonotic orthobunyavirus transmitted by a wide range of mosquito vectors. The virus is distributed throughout Asia and parts of Africa and has been sporadically detected in several European countries. There is increasing evidence that BATV is emerging in Europe as a potential threat to both animal and human health, having been detected in mosquitoes, mammals, birds and humans. In recent years, serological surveillance in cattle, sheep and goats has suggested an antibody prevalence of up to 46% in European livestock, although human serological prevalence remains generally low. However, the recent and continued spread of invasive mosquito species into Europe may facilitate the establishment of competent populations of mosquitoes leading to increased BATV transmission. Migratory birds may also potentially facilitate the emergence of BATV in geographical locations where it was previously undetected. Although BATV has the potential to cause disease in humans and livestock, our understanding of the impact in wild animal populations is extremely limited. Therefore, there is a need for increased surveillance for BATV in mosquitoes, livestock, wild mammals and birds in Europe to understand the true impact of this virus.
Topics: Animals; Bunyamwera virus; Cattle; Culicidae; Europe; Goats; Humans; Orthobunyavirus; Phylogeny; Sheep
PubMed: 36146674
DOI: 10.3390/v14091868 -
Revue Scientifique Et Technique... Aug 2015This paper reviews less well-known or less widely distributed viruses of the Bunyaviridae family that are nonetheless of significant veterinary and public health...
This paper reviews less well-known or less widely distributed viruses of the Bunyaviridae family that are nonetheless of significant veterinary and public health concern. These include: Cache Valley fever, Main Drain, Ingwavuma, Bhanja and Heartland viruses. A description of the agents, clinical signs of infection, epidemiology, and insect transmission is provided for each, and the authors discuss current diagnostic strategies plus the lack of control measures.
Topics: Animals; Bunyaviridae Infections; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Disease Outbreaks; Host Specificity; Insect Vectors; Orthobunyavirus; Phylogeny
PubMed: 26601445
DOI: 10.20506/rst.34.2.2368 -
Revue Scientifique Et Technique... Aug 2015Akabane virus is a Culicoides-borne orthobunyavirus that is teratogenic to the fetus of cattle and small ruminant species. Depending upon the stage of gestation atwhich...
Akabane virus is a Culicoides-borne orthobunyavirus that is teratogenic to the fetus of cattle and small ruminant species. Depending upon the stage of gestation atwhich infection occurs, and the length of gestation of the mammalian host, a range of congenital defects may be observed. The developing central nervous system is usually the most severely affected, with hydranencephaly and arthrogryposis most frequently observed. Less commonly, some strains of Akabane virus can cause encephalitis in the neonate or, rarely, adult cattle. Akabane viruses are known to be widespread in temperate and tropical regions of Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and some African countries. Disease is infrequently observed in regions where this virus is endemic and the presence of the virus remains unrecognised in the absence of serological surveillance. In some Asian countries, vaccines are used to minimise the occurrence of disease.
Topics: Animals; Bunyaviridae Infections; Orthobunyavirus
PubMed: 26601444
DOI: 10.20506/rst.34.2.2366 -
Antiviral Research Nov 2022Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a medically relevant tick-borne viral disease caused by the Bunyavirus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). CCHFV is...
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a medically relevant tick-borne viral disease caused by the Bunyavirus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). CCHFV is endemic to Asia, the Middle East, South-eastern Europe, and Africa and is transmitted in enzootic cycles among ticks, mammals, and birds. Human infections are mostly subclinical or limited to mild febrile illness. Severe disease may develop, resulting in multi-organ failure, hemorrhagic manifestations, and case-fatality rates up to 30%. Despite the widespread distribution and life-threatening potential, no treatments have been approved for CCHF. Antiviral inhibitory peptides, which antagonize viral entry, are licensed for clinical use in certain viral infections and have been experimentally designed against human pathogenic bunyaviruses, with in vitro and in vivo efficacies. We designed inhibitory peptides against CCHFV with and without conjugation to various polyethylene glycol and sterol groups. These additions have been shown to enhance both cellular uptake and antiviral activity. Peptides were evaluated against pseudotyped and wild-type CCHFV via neutralization tests, Nairovirus fusion assays, and cytotoxicity profiling. Four peptides neutralized CCHFV with two of these peptides shown to inhibit viral fusion. This work represents the development of experimental countermeasures for CCHF, describes a nairovirus immunofluorescence fusion assay, and illustrates the utility of pseudotyped CCHFV for the screening of entry antagonists at low containment settings for CCHF.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo; Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean; Humans; Mammals; Orthobunyavirus; Peptides; Polyethylene Glycols; Sterols
PubMed: 36049554
DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105401 -
The Indian Journal of Medical Research May 2017Newly emerging and re-emerging viral infections are of major public health concern. Bunyaviridae family of viruses comprises a large group of animal viruses. Clinical... (Review)
Review
Newly emerging and re-emerging viral infections are of major public health concern. Bunyaviridae family of viruses comprises a large group of animal viruses. Clinical symptoms exhibited by persons infected by viruses belonging to this family vary from mild-to-severe diseases i.e., febrile illness, encephalitis, haemorrhagic fever and acute respiratory illness. Several arthropods-borne viruses have been discovered and classified at serological level in India in the past. Some of these are highly pathogenic as the recent emergence and spread of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus and presence of antibodies against Hantavirus in humans in India have provided evidences that it may become one of the emerging diseases in this country. For many of the discovered viruses, we still need to study their relevance to human and animal health. Chittoor virus, a variant of Batai virus; Ganjam virus, an Asian variant of Nairobi sheep disease virus; tick-borne viruses such as Bhanja, Palma and mosquito-borne viruses such as Sathuperi, Thimiri, Umbre and Ingwavuma viruses have been identified as the members of this family. As Bunyaviruses are three segmented RNA viruses, they can reassort the segments into genetically distinct viruses in target cells. This ability is believed to play a major role in evolution, pathogenesis and epidemiology of the viruses. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of discovery, emergence and distribution of Bunyaviruses in India.
Topics: Animals; Bunyaviridae Infections; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo; Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean; Humans; India; Orthobunyavirus; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral; Sheep
PubMed: 28948950
DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1871_15 -
Viruses May 2021With over 80 members worldwide, is the largest genus in the family. Orthobunyaviruses (OBVs) are arthropod-borne viruses that are structurally simple, with a... (Review)
Review
With over 80 members worldwide, is the largest genus in the family. Orthobunyaviruses (OBVs) are arthropod-borne viruses that are structurally simple, with a trisegmented, negative-sense RNA genome and only four structural proteins. OBVs are potential agents of emerging and re-emerging diseases and overall represent a global threat to both public and veterinary health. The focus of this review is on the very first steps of OBV infection in mammalian hosts, from virus binding to penetration and release of the viral genome into the cytosol. Here, we address the most current knowledge and advances regarding OBV receptors, endocytosis, and fusion.
Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Bunyaviridae Infections; Cell Membrane; Genome, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Orthobunyavirus; Species Specificity; Viral Tropism; Virion; Virus Attachment; Virus Internalization
PubMed: 34068494
DOI: 10.3390/v13050872