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Infectious Disease Clinics of North... Mar 1994Several viral and bacterial agents are responsible for hemorrhagic fever in Latin America, but there are three agents that are only present in this region: (1) the Junin... (Review)
Review
Several viral and bacterial agents are responsible for hemorrhagic fever in Latin America, but there are three agents that are only present in this region: (1) the Junin virus, (2) the Machupo virus, and (3) the Guanaritovirus, members of the Tacaribe complex of the family Arenaviridae and responsible for the Argentinian, Bolivian, and Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever. The clinical manifestations of hemorrhagic fever are similar for the three viruses, mainly myalgia, arthralgia, headache, relative bradycardia, conjunctivitis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhagic disorders. In this article, the three viruses, their causes, and manifestations are discussed.
Topics: Arenavirus; Hemorrhagic Fever, American; Humans; Latin America
PubMed: 8021448
DOI: No ID Found -
Viruses May 2021Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens,...
Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens, despite this high potential. Angola is at the convergence of three major biogeographical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, each harbouring a specific rodent community. This rodent-rich area is, therefore, strategic for studying the diversity and evolution of rodent-borne viruses. In this study we examined 290 small mammals, almost all rodents, for the presence of mammarenavirus and hantavirus RNA. While no hantavirus was detected, we found three rodent species positive for distinct mammarenaviruses with a particularly high prevalence in Namaqua rock rats (). We characterised four complete virus genomes, which showed typical mammarenavirus organisation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses revealed: (i) the presence of a significantly divergent strain of Luna virus in Angolan representatives of the ubiquitous Natal multimammate mouse (), (ii) a novel Okahandja-related virus associated with the Angolan lineage of for which we propose the name Bitu virus (BITV) and (iii) the occurrence of a novel Mobala-like mammarenavirus in the grey-bellied pygmy mouse () for which we propose the name Kwanza virus (KWAV). This high virus diversity in a limited host sample size and in a relatively small geographical area supports the idea that Angola is a hotspot for mammarenavirus diversity.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Arenaviridae Infections; Disease Reservoirs; Genome, Viral; Geography, Medical; Phylogeny; Prevalence; RNA, Viral; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 34070551
DOI: 10.3390/v13060982 -
EcoHealth Mar 2022In the Americas, infectious viral diseases caused by viruses of the genus Mammarenavirus have been reported since the 1960s. Such diseases have commonly been associated... (Review)
Review
In the Americas, infectious viral diseases caused by viruses of the genus Mammarenavirus have been reported since the 1960s. Such diseases have commonly been associated with land use changes, which favor abundance of generalist rodent species. In the Americas-where the rates of land use change are among the highest worldwide-at least 1326 of all 2277 known rodent species have been reported. We conducted a literature review of studies between 1960 and 2020, to establish the current and historical knowledge about genotypes of mammarenaviruses and their rodent reservoirs in the Americas. Our overall goal was to show the importance of focusing research efforts on the American continent, since the conditions exist for future viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks caused by rodent-borne viruses, in turn, carried by widely distributed rodents. We found 47 species identified down to the species level, and one species identified only down to the genus level (Oryzomys sp.), reported in the Americas as reservoirs of mammarenaviruses, most these are ecological generalists. These species associate with 29 genotypes of Mammarenavirus, seven of which have been linked to VHFs in humans. We also highlight the need to monitor these species, in order to prevent viral disease outbreaks in the region.
Topics: Americas; Animals; Arenaviridae; Disease Reservoirs; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Rodentia
PubMed: 35247117
DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01580-0 -
Current Opinion in Microbiology Aug 2008The family Arenaviridae consists of a unique genus (Arenavirus) that currently comprises 22 viral species, as recognized by the International Committee for Taxonomy of... (Review)
Review
The family Arenaviridae consists of a unique genus (Arenavirus) that currently comprises 22 viral species, as recognized by the International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses. Seven newly discovered represent putative new species. Here, our aims were to provide the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of members and putative members of the family Arenaviridae to date, and to investigate the genetic diversity observed within and between recognized species of New world arenaviruses to determine whether the genetic criteria previously proposed to define arenavirus species for Old world arenaviruses should be retained or are more widely applicable to the whole genus.
Topics: Arenaviridae; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 18602020
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2008.06.001 -
Virologica Sinica Oct 2016Mammarenaviruses, including lethal pathogens such as Lassa virus and Junín virus, can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Entry is a key step for virus infection,... (Review)
Review
Mammarenaviruses, including lethal pathogens such as Lassa virus and Junín virus, can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Entry is a key step for virus infection, which starts with binding of the envelope glycoprotein (GP) to receptors on target cells and subsequent fusion of the virus with target cell membranes. The GP precursor is synthesized as a polypeptide, and maturation occurs by two cleavage events, yielding a tripartite GP complex (GPC) formed by a stable signal peptide (SSP), GP1 and GP2. The unique retained SSP interacts with GP2 and plays essential roles in virion maturation and infectivity. GP1 is responsible for binding to the cell receptor, and GP2 is a class I fusion protein. The native structure of the tripartite GPC is unknown. GPC is critical for the receptor binding, membrane fusion and neutralization antibody recognition. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlining the structure-function relationship of the three subunits is the key for understanding their function and can facilitate novel avenues for combating virus infections. This review summarizes the basic aspects and recent research of the structure-function relationship of the three subunits. We discuss the structural basis of the receptor-binding domain in GP1, the interaction between SSP and GP2 and its role in virion maturation and membrane fusion, as well as the mechanism by which glycosylation stabilizes the GPC structure and facilitates immune evasion. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in these aspects will contribute to the development of novel vaccines and treatment strategies against mammarenaviruses infection.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Arenaviridae Infections; Humans; Viral Envelope Proteins
PubMed: 27562602
DOI: 10.1007/s12250-016-3815-4 -
Antiviral Research Jan 2003The family Arenaviridae includes 23 viral species, of which 5 can cause viral hemorrhagic fevers with a case fatality rate of about 20%. These five viruses are Junin,... (Review)
Review
The family Arenaviridae includes 23 viral species, of which 5 can cause viral hemorrhagic fevers with a case fatality rate of about 20%. These five viruses are Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia and Lassa virus, the manipulation of which requires biosafety level 4 facilities. They are included in the Category A Pathogen List established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that groups agents with the greatest potential for adverse public health impact and mass casualties whether a situation characterized by a ill-intentioned abuse of natural or engineered arenavirus would be encountered. The aims of this article are to (i) summarize the current situation; (ii) provide information to help anticipating the effects to be expected in such a situation; and to (iii) emphasize the need for fundamental research to allow the development of diagnostic, prevention and therapeutic tools as countermeasures to weaponized arenaviruses.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenaviruses, New World; Bioterrorism; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Humans; Junin virus; Lassa virus; Ribavirin
PubMed: 12615305
DOI: 10.1016/s0166-3542(02)00202-4 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Sep 2005
Review
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Humans; Public Health; Zoonoses
PubMed: 16190589
DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.227.904 -
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Dec 1997Viruses of the Arenaviridae cause hemorrhagic fevers and neurologic disease in humans. Historically, the arenaviruses have been divided into two complexes (LASV-LCMV,...
Viruses of the Arenaviridae cause hemorrhagic fevers and neurologic disease in humans. Historically, the arenaviruses have been divided into two complexes (LASV-LCMV, Tacaribe) through the use of antigenic typing. The phylogeny of the Arenaviridae as a whole has not been estimated previously due to a lack of sequence data for all members of the family. In this study, nucleocapsid protein gene sequence data were obtained for all currently known arenaviruses and used to estimate, for the first time, a phylogeny of the entire virus family. The LCMV-LASV complex arenaviruses are monophyletic and comprise three distinct lineages. The Tacaribe complex viruses also are monophyletic and occupy three distinct lineages. Comparisons of arenavirus phylogeny with rodent host phylogeny and taxonomic relationships provide several examples in which virus-host cospeciation is potentially occurring. The pathogenic arenaviruses do not appear to be monophyletic, suggesting that the pathogenic phenotype has arisen in multiple independent events during virus evolution.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Base Sequence; DNA; Evolution, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rodentia; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Species Specificity
PubMed: 9417890
DOI: 10.1006/mpev.1997.0436 -
Viruses Oct 2012Arenaviruses have a bisegmented negative-strand RNA genome, which encodes four viral proteins: GP and NP by the S segment and L and Z by the L segment. These four viral... (Review)
Review
Arenaviruses have a bisegmented negative-strand RNA genome, which encodes four viral proteins: GP and NP by the S segment and L and Z by the L segment. These four viral proteins possess multiple functions in infection, replication and release of progeny viruses from infected cells. The small RING finger protein, Z protein is a matrix protein that plays a central role in viral assembly and budding. Although all arenaviruses encode Z protein, amino acid sequence alignment showed a huge variety among the species, especially at the C-terminus where the L-domain is located. Recent publications have demonstrated the interactions between viral protein and viral protein, and viral protein and host cellular protein, which facilitate transportation and assembly of viral components to sites of virus egress. This review presents a summary of current knowledge regarding arenavirus assembly and budding, in comparison with other enveloped viruses. We also refer to the restriction of arenavirus production by the antiviral cellular factor, Tetherin/BST-2.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Carrier Proteins; Cell Membrane; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Genome, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein Transport; Structure-Activity Relationship; Virus Assembly; Virus Release
PubMed: 23202453
DOI: 10.3390/v4102049 -
Journal of Molecular Biology Jun 2018Viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by emerging RNA viruses of the Arenavirus family are among the most devastating human diseases. Climate change, global trade, and... (Review)
Review
Viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by emerging RNA viruses of the Arenavirus family are among the most devastating human diseases. Climate change, global trade, and increasing urbanization promote the emergence and re-emergence of these human pathogenic viruses. Emerging pathogenic arenaviruses are of zoonotic origin and reservoir-to-human transmission is crucial for spillover into human populations. Host cell attachment and entry are the first and most fundamental steps of every virus infection and represent major barriers for zoonotic transmission. During host cell invasion, viruses critically depend on cellular factors, including receptors, co-receptors, and regulatory proteins of endocytosis. An in-depth understanding of the complex interaction of a virus with cellular factors implicated in host cell entry is therefore crucial to predict the risk of zoonotic transmission, define the tissue tropism, and assess disease potential. Over the past years, investigation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying host cell invasion of human pathogenic arenaviruses uncovered remarkable viral strategies and provided novel insights into viral adaptation and virus-host co-evolution that will be covered in the present review.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae Infections; Arenavirus; Host Microbial Interactions; Humans; Viral Tropism; Virus Attachment; Virus Internalization; Zoonoses
PubMed: 29705070
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.04.026