Rhabdoviridae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Rhabdovirus)
Jump to: navigation, search
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by
adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and
removed. (October 2008)
Rhabdoviridae

Virus classification
Group: Group V ((-)ssRNA)
Order: Mononegavirales
Family: Rhabdoviridae

Genera
Vesiculovirus
Lyssavirus
Ephemerovirus
Cytorhabdovirus
Nucleorhabdovirus
Novirhabdovirus
Rhabdoviruses are viruses belonging to the family Rhabdoviridae, which is in the order
Mononegavirales. The name is derived from the Greek rhabdos meaning rod referring to the
shape of the viral particles. Rhabdoviruses infect a broad range of hosts throughout the animal
and plant kingdom. Animal rhabdoviruses infect insects, fish, and mammals, including humans.

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Virology
○ 1.1 Classification
○ 1.2 Replication
○ 1.3 Prototypical Rhabdoviruses
• 2 See also
• 3 References
○ 3.1 Notes
○ 3.2 Bibliography
• 4 Further reading
• 5 External links
[edit] Virology
[edit] Classification
Rhabdoviruses carry their genetic material in the form of negative-sense single-stranded RNA.
They typically carry genes for five proteins: large protein (L), glycoprotein (G), nucleoprotein
(N), phosphoprotein (P), and matrix protein (M). Rhabdoviruses that infect vertebrates are bullet-
shaped.
The following genera are included here:
• Genus Cytorhabdovirus; type species: Lettuce necrotic yellows virus
• Genus Ephemerovirus; type species: Bovine ephemeral fever virus
• Genus Lyssavirus; type species: Rabies virus
• Genus Novirhabdovirus; type species: Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
• Genus Nucleorhabdovirus; type species: Potato yellow dwarf virus
• Genus Vesiculovirus; type species: Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus
In addition to the above, there are a large number of rhabdoviruses that have not yet been
assigned to a genus.
[edit] Replication
Replication of many rhabdoviruses occurs in the cytoplasm, although several of the plant
infecting viruses replicate in the nucleus. In order for replication, both the L and P protein must
be expressed to regulate transcription. Transcription results in five monocistronic mRNAs being
produced because the intergenic sequences act as both termination and promoter sequences for
adjacent genes. During their synthesis the mRNAs are processed to introduce a 5’ cap and a 3’
polyadenylated tail to each of the molecules. This structure is homologous to cellular mRNAs
and can thus be translated by cellular ribosomes to produce both structural and non-structural
proteins.
Genomic replication requires a source of newly synthesized N protein to encapsidate the RNA.
This occurs during its synthesis and results in the production of a full length anti-genomic copy.
This in turn is used to produce more negative-sense genomic RNA. The viral polymerase is
required for this process, but how the polymerase engages in both mRNA synthesis and genomic
replication is not well understood.
Replication characteristically occurs in an inclusion body within the cytoplasm, from where they
bud through various cytoplasmic membranes and the outer membrane of the cell. This process
results in the acquisition of the M + G proteins, responsible for the characteristic bullet- shaped
morphology of the virus.
[edit] Prototypical Rhabdoviruses
The prototypical and best studied rhabdovirus is vesicular stomatitis virus. Since it is easy to
grow in the laboratory, it is a preferred model system to study the biology of Rhabdoviruses, and
Mononegavirales in general.
The mammalian disease Rabies is caused by Lyssavirus, of which several strains have been
identified.
Rhabdoviruses are important pathogens of animals and plants. Rhabdoviruses include RaV
(Rabies virus), VSV (Vesicular stomatitis virus). Rhabdoviruses are transmitted to hosts by
arthropods, such as aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, black flies, sandflies, and mosquitoes.