Alphavirus

Not to be confused with alphaherpesvirus or SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant.

Alphavirus
Structure and genome of an alphavirus
A computer-generated model of the surface of an "Alphavirus" derived by cryoelectron microscopy. The spike-like structures on the virion surface are trimers composed of heterodimers of the virion surface glycoproteins E1 and E2. These spikes are used by the virus to attach to susceptible animal cells
A computer-generated model of the surface of an Alphavirus derived by cryoelectron microscopy. The spike-like structures on the virion surface are trimers composed of heterodimers of the virion surface Glycoproteins E1 and E2. These spikes are used by the virus to attach to susceptible animal cells
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Kitrinoviricota
Class: Alsuviricetes
Order: Martellivirales
Family: Togaviridae
Genus: Alphavirus
Species

Alphavirus is a genus of RNA viruses, the sole genus in the Togaviridae family. Alphaviruses belong to group IV of the Baltimore classification of viruses, with a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome.[1] There are 32 alphavirus species, which infect various vertebrates such as humans, rodents, fish, birds, and larger mammals such as horses, as well as invertebrates.[1] Alphaviruses that can infect both vertebrates and arthropods are referred dual-host alphaviruses, while insect-specific alphaviruses such as Eilat virus and Yada yada virus are restricted to their competent arthropod vector.[2] Transmission between species and their vertebrate hosts (including human) occurs mainly via mosquitoes, making the alphaviruses a member of the collection of arboviruses – or arthropod-borne viruses.[1] Alphavirus particles are enveloped, have a 70 nm diameter, tend to be spherical (although slightly pleomorphic), and have a 40 nm isometric nucleocapsid.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Ahola, Tero; McInerney, Gerald; Merits, Andres (1 January 2021), Kielian, Margaret; Mettenleiter, Thomas C.; Roossinck, Marilyn J. (eds.), "Chapter Four - Alphavirus RNA replication in vertebrate cells", Advances in Virus Research, vol. 111, Academic Press, pp. 111–156, doi:10.1016/bs.aivir.2021.07.003, retrieved 20 August 2024
  2. ^ Elrefaey AM, Abdelnabi R, Rosales Rosas AL, Wang L, Basu S, Delang L (31 August 2020). "Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Host Restriction of Insect-Specific Viruses". Viruses. 12 (9): 964. doi:10.3390/v12090964. PMC 7552076. PMID 32878245.
  3. ^ Chen R, Mukhopadhyay S, Merits A, Bolling B, Nasar F, Coffey LL, et al. (June 2018). "ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Togaviridae". The Journal of General Virology. 99 (6): 761–2. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.001072. PMID 29745869.