Bunyaviridae and Their Replication. Part 2. Replication of Bunyaviridae

The Bunyaviridae family was established in 1975 to encompass a large group of arthropod-borne viruses sharing morphological, morphogenic, and antigenic properties. More than 250 serologically distinct members comprise Bunyaviridae, making it the largest known family of RNA animal viruses. Five genera of Bunyaviridae have been defined Bunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus, and Uukuvirus. Prototype viruses for each respective genus are Bunyamwera BUN, Hantaan HTN, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever CCHF, sandfly fever Naples SFN, and Uukuniemi UUK. Most viruses in the family have been isolated from or are transmitted by arthropods. Hantaviruses are exceptions these viruses are primarily rodent-borne and have no known arthropod vector but instead are transmitted via aerosolized rodent excreta. Some members of the Bunyaviridae have been associated with severe or fatal human infections for example, Rift Valley fever virus RVFV, HTN, CCHF, and La Crosse LAC, but many are not known to infect humans. Readers are referred to Chapter 42 for details on the ecology, epidemiology, and medical significance of viruses in this family. Serological cross-reactivity has not been found among viruses in different genera of the Bunyaviridae. Viruses do, however, share several common structural, genetic, replicative, and morphogenic properties, which are discussed in the rest of this report. Keywords Reprints.