| Nairovirus | |
|---|---|
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group V ((-)ssRNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Bunyaviridae |
| Genus: | Nairovirus |
| Type species | |
| Nairobi sheep disease virus |
|
| Species | |
|
Abu Hammad virus |
|
Nairovirus is a genus in the family Bunyaviridae that include viruses with circular, negative-sense single stranded RNA. It got its name from the Nairobi sheep disease that affects the gastrointestinal tracts of sheep and goats. Viruses in this genus are tick-borne viruses that can have human or animal hosts.[1]
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The Nairobi sheep disease virus (NSD) is the prototype virus of the genus. This virus is found in East and Central Africa and causes acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in sheep and goats. There are 34 viruses currently recognised in this genus. All are tick borne.
Other viruses in this genus include:[1][2]
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV)
Dera Ghazi Khan virus (DGKV)
Dugbe virus (DUGV)
Hughes virus (HUGV)
Qalyub virus (QYBV)
Sakhalin virus (SAKV)
Thiafora virus (TFAV)
The genus is divided into a number (at least seven) serogroups:
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Dera Ghazi Khan
Hughes
Nairobi sheep disease
Qalyub
Sakhalin
Thiafora
Within each serogroup are a number of related viruses:
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever serogroup:
Dera Ghazi Khan serogroup:
Hughes serogroup:
Nairobi sheep disease serogroup:
Qalyub serogroup:
Sakhalin serogroup:
Thiafora serogroup:
Nairovirus genomes are monomeric, segmented, circular, negative sense, single-stranded RNA. The complete genome is about 17,100-22,800 nucleotides long and is segmented into three segments: large, medium, and small.[1] The large segment is about 11000-14400 nucleotides long (6.8–12 kb) and it encodes for the nucleocapsid protein.[3][4] The medium segment is about 4,400-6,300 nucleotides long (3.2-4.9kb) and it encodes for glycoproteins G¬n and Gc.[3][4] The small segment is about 1,700-2,100 nucleotides long (1-3kb) and it encodes the viral polymerase.[1][3][4]
The genome has terminally redundant sequences with the sequences being repeated at both ends. The terminal nucleotides are base-paired forming non-covalently closed, circular RNA.[3] Both the 5’ and 3’ end have conserved regions of 9 nucleotides in length. The sequences are 5’end UCUCAAAGA and 3’end AGAGUUUCU.[3]
The virions for viruses in this genus have a spherical shape.[4] They range in size from about 80-120 nm in diameter with 50% of their weight attributed to proteins and 20-30% of their weight attributed to lipids.[3] The virions have 3 non-segmented, circular, symmetric nucleocapsids. The ribonucleocapsid is filamentous and has a length of about 200-300 nm and a width of about 2-2.5 nm.[3]
These nucleocapsids are surrounded by a single envelope that has projections made of glycoproteins protruding from its surface. These projections evenly cover the surface of the virion and are about 5-10 nm long.[3] They aid in attachment to the host receptor in replication.
These viruses are not dependent on a helper virus. They attach to the host receptors by their Gn-Gc glycoprotein dimer.[4] The virus is then endocytosed into the host cell via a vesicle. The ribonucleocapsid segments are released into the cytoplasm commencing transcription.[4] Transcription and replication occur in the cell and the newly synthesized virions are released by budding.
This virus infects many different vertebrate hosts and is transmitted via insects such as ticks and flies.[3]
There are no geographical localizations of this virus. It is widespread. However, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus is localized to Africa, Asia and Europe.[4]
Only three viruses in this genus to date have been recognised as human pathogens: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Dugbe virus and Nairobi sheep disease virus.