Hazara virus

Hazara virus
Virus classification
Group: Group V ((−)ssRNA)
Order: Unassigned
Family: Bunyaviridae
Genus: Nairovirus
Species: Hazara virus

In 1954 the Hazara virus, one of the 34 tick borne viruses of the genus Nairovirus, was discovered in Pakistan in the Ixodes tick native to that region.[1][2] Today this virus is studied in mice in an attempt to develop treatments for the highly pathogenic Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus.[3]

Characteristics

The Hazara virus is part of the genus Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae viruses, which are a family of enveloped negative-stranded RNA viruses with a genome split into three parts - Small (S), Middle (M) and Large (L). The L RNA segment encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L protein), the M RNA segment encodes two surface glycoproteins (Gc and Gn), and the S RNA segment encodes a nucleocapsid protein (N).[4][5] The three genomic RNA segments are encapsidated by copies of the N protein in the form of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes.[6][7] The N protein is the most abundant viral protein in Bunyaviridae virus particles and infected cells and, therefore, the main target in many serological and molecular diagnostics.[8][9]

Transmission

The Hazara virus is spread by the Ixodes redikorzevi tick. The Ixodes redikorzevi tick is commonly found on an alpine vole inhabiting the Hazara District of Pakistan.[1]

Signs and Symptoms

Hazara virus does not cause disease or symptoms in humans. In laboratory mice, symptoms can mirror those of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus.[10]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis in rodents is made by detecting Hazara virus antibodies in the serum.[2]

Clinical Importance

Hazara virus is in the same Nairovirus serogroup as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV), and has similar disease progression to that seen in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) infections in suckling mice and in the interferon receptor knockout mouse model [11][3] This indicates that Hazara virus could represent a valid model for CCHFV infection.

This finding is particularly important because using the Hazara virus (biosafety level 2) as a model allows scientists to investigate this serogroup of viruses for the development of antivirals, without having to work in a biosafety level 4 environment, which is the highest available level of biosecurity, and is mandatory when working with intact CCHFV. While CCHFV is the most important human pathogen in this serogroup, Hazara research is potentially useful in the development of antiviral medications for all viruses in the genus Nairovirus.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Fatima Begum, C. L. Wisseman Jr. And J. Casals (1970-03-03). "Tick-Borne Viruses Of West Pakistan: Ii. Hazara Virus, A New Agent Isolated From Ixodes Redikorzeviticks From The Kaghan Valley, W. Pakistan". Aje.oxfordjournals.org. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  2. 1 2 "Virology Journal | Full text | Inhibition of Hazara nairovirus replication by small interfering RNAs and their combination with ribavirin". Virologyj.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  3. 1 2 Dowall, SD; Findlay-Wilson, S; Rayner, E; Pearson, G; Pickersgill, J; Rule, A; Merredew, N; Smith, H; Chamberlain, J; Hewson, R (2014-11-12). "Hazara virus infection is lethal for adult type I interferon receptor-knockout mice and may act as a surrogate for infection with the human-pathogenic Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus". J. Gen. Virol. 93: 560–4. PMID 22090213. doi:10.1099/vir.0.038455-0.
  4. ↑ "Kupe Virus, a New Virus in the Family Bunyaviridae, Genus Nairovirus, Kenya" (PDF). Vir.sgmjkournals.org. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  5. ↑ "Inhibition of Hazara nairovirus replication by small interfering RNAs and their combination with ribavirin". Virology Journal. 8: 249. 2011-05-21. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-249. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  6. ↑ Morikawa, Shigeru; Saijo, Masayuki; Kurane, Ichiro. "Recent progress in molecular biology of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever". Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 30 (5-6): 375–389. doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2007.07.001.
  7. 1 2 Surtees, Rebecca; Ariza, Antonio; Punch, Emma K.; Trinh, Chi H.; Dowall, Stuart D.; Hewson, Roger; Hiscox, Julian A.; Barr, John N.; Edwards, Thomas A. (2015-01-01). "The crystal structure of the Hazara virus nucleocapsid protein". BMC Structural Biology. 15: 24. ISSN 1472-6807. PMC 4696240 Freely accessible. PMID 26715309. doi:10.1186/s12900-015-0051-3.
  8. ↑ Bilk, S.; Schulze, C.; Fischer, M.; Beer, M.; Hlinak, A.; Hoffmann, B. (2012-09-14). "Organ distribution of Schmallenberg virus RNA in malformed newborns". Veterinary Microbiology. 159 (1–2): 236–238. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.03.035.
  9. ↑ Bréard, Emmanuel; Lara, Estelle; Comtet, Loïc; Viarouge, Cyril; Doceul, Virginie; Desprat, Alexandra; Vitour, Damien; Pozzi, Nathalie; Cay, Ann Brigitte (2013-01-15). "Validation of a Commercially Available Indirect Elisa Using a Nucleocapside Recombinant Protein for Detection of Schmallenberg Virus Antibodies". PLOS ONE. 8 (1): e53446. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3546048 Freely accessible. PMID 23335964. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053446.
  10. ↑ "Hazara virus infection is lethal for adult type I interferon receptor-knockout mice and may act as a surrogate for infection with the human-pathogenic Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus" (PDF). Vir.sgmjkournals.org. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  11. ↑ Bereczky, Sándor; Lindegren, Gunnel; Karlberg, Helen; Åkerström, Sara; Klingström, Jonas; Mirazimi, Ali (2010-01-01). "Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection is lethal for adult type I interferon receptor-knockout mice". Journal of General Virology. 91 (6): 1473–1477. doi:10.1099/vir.0.019034-0.
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