Hantaan virus
Hantaan virus | |
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Virus classification ![]() | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Negarnaviricota
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Class: | Bunyaviricetes |
Order: | Elliovirales |
Family: | Hantaviridae |
Genus: | Orthohantavirus |
Species: | |
Virus: | Hantaan virus
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Synonyms[1][2] | |
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Hantaan virus (HTNV) is the main cause of
The genome of HTNV is about 11.9 kilobases (kb) in length and segmented into three negative-sense, single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA) strands. The small strand encodes the viral nucleoprotein, the medium strand encodes the viral spike protein, which attaches to cell receptors for entry into cells, and the long strand encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which replicates and transcribes the genome. Genome segments are encased in nucleoproteins to form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes that are surrounded by a viral envelope that contains spikes emanating from its surface.
Hantaan virus replicates first by binding to the surface of cells with its envelope spikes. Virus particles, called virions, are then taken into the cell by endosomes, where a drop in pH causes the viral envelope to fuse with the endosome, which releases viral RNA into the host cell. RdRp then transcribes the genome for translation by host cell ribosomes and produces copies of the genome for progeny viruses. New virions are assembled at the endoplasmic reticulum and bud from its surface to obtain their viral envelope. Progeny viruses are then transported by a cellular vesicle to the cell membrane, where they leave the cell by exocytosis.
HTNV was discovered in 1976 then isolated in 1978 after being extracted from striped field mice. The virus was subsequently linked to a past outbreak among soldiers in the Korean War who were stationed near the
Genome
The genome of Hantaan virus is about 11.8 thousand nucleotides in length and segmented into three negative-sense, single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA) strands. The segments form into circles via non-covalent bonding of the ends of the genome.[1] The small segment, about 1.7 kilobases (kb) in length, encodes the viral nucleoprotein. The medium segment, about 3.62 kb in length, encodes a glycoprotein precursor that is cleaved into the two spike proteins Gn and Gc during virion assembly. The large segment, about 6.53 kb in length, encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which is responsible for transcribing and replicating the genome. The ends of each segment contain untranslated terminal regions (UTRs) that are involved in the replication and transcription of the genome.[1][3][4]
Structure
Virions are mostly spherical or pleomorphic in shape and range from 80 to 160 nm in diameter. They contain a lipid envelope covered in spike proteins made of the two viral glycoproteins, Gn and Gc. The spike proteins extend about 10 nm out from the surface and are tetrameric, consisting of four copies each of Gn and Gc with helical symmetry, in which Gn forms the stalk of the spike and Gc the head. Spikes are arranged on the surface in a lattice pattern. Inside the envelope are the three genome segments, which are encased in nucleoproteins to form a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. Attached to each RNP complex is a copy of RdRp.[1][5][6]
Life cycle
HTNV primarily infects
For replication of the genome, a complementary positive-sense strand is produced by RdRp. Copies of the genome are made from this complementary strand. Progeny RNA strands are then encapsidated by nucleoproteins.[3] During replication, the glycoprotein is cleaved in the endoplasmic reticulum by the host signal peptidase during translation. This produces Gn at the N-terminus and Gc at the C-terminus of the protein.[5] Spike proteins are expressed on the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. Viral RNPs are transported to the endoplasmic reticulum where they bud from the surface, thereby obtaining their envelope. Progeny viruses are then transported by a cellular vesicle to the cell membrane, where they leave the cell via exocytosis.[7][8]
Evolution
The most common way that hantaviruses evolve is through mutations of individual nucleotides being inserted, deleted, or substituted. Because Hantaan virus has a segmented genome, it is possible for recombination and reassortment of segments to occur, whereby segments from different lineages mix in a single host cell and produce hybrid progeny.[3] In China, a recombinant strain of HTNV was discovered in which recombination had occurred with a different species of hantavirus.[3] In another instance, an isolate from brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) was found to have reassorted with a virus in another species, Seoul virus.[9]
Ecology

Hantaan virus is transmitted by striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius).[3][10] These mice mainly reside in rural areas, where they frequently use crop fields as a source of food.[10] Spillover events in which HTNV spreads from striped field mice to brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are common.[9] Parasitic mites of striped field mice have been found to be infected Hantaan virus, which suggests that they can transmit the virus to mammals they parasitize.[11] Antibodies to Hantaan virus have been detected in cattle, deer, and rabbits, but the role of these animals as hosts is unknown.[3]
In its rodent hosts, HTNV causes a persistent and mainly asymptomatic infection. Rodent-to-rodent transmission occurs through contact with bodily fluids and through fighting and grooming.[5][12] Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of aerosols that contain rat saliva, urine, or feces.[4][10] Transmission can also occur through consumption of contaminated food, bites, and scratches.[3][10] Infections with Hantaan virus mainly occur in rural settings such as in residences near crop fields or in such fields. In China, cases most commonly occur during the autumn harvest season when farmers work on and sometimes sleep in crop fields.[10]
Disease
Hantaan virus infection can cause
Infection with Hantaan virus mainly occurs in China and South Korea,
Classification
Hantaan virus is classified into the species Orthohantavirus hantanense in the genus Orthohantavirus, which is in the family Hantaviridae, the family that all hantaviruses belong to. Other members of Orthohantavirus hantanense include Amur virus and Soochong virus. The 76-118 isolate of Hantaan virus is the exemplar virus of the species. This taxonomy is shown hereafter:[1][2][21]
- Family: Hantaviridae
- Genus: Orthohantavirus
- Species: Orthohantavirus hantanense
- Amur virus
- Hantaan virus
- Soochong virus
- Species: Orthohantavirus hantanense
- Genus: Orthohantavirus
History
During the
In 1976, Ho Wang Lee (Korean: 이호왕)[23] showed that antigens taken from the lungs of striped field mice were reactive to antibodies from sera of people who had Korean hemorrhagic fever. The virus couldn't be isolated in 1976 but testing showed that an infectious agent was responsible.[21] The virus was isolated for the first time in 1978[3] and named "KHF strain 76-118". It was propagated in cell cultures for the first time in 1981 and renamed "Hantaan virus, strain 76-118" after the Hantan river. Around the same time, other viruses related to Hantaan virus that caused HFRS were discovered throughout Asia and Europe. This group of newly discovered were given the name "hantaviruses", taking the name of Hantaan virus.[21]
Hantaan virus was accepted as a species by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses in 1987,[2] and with it the establishment a genus for hantaviruses.[24] It has undergone a series of changes to its species name, first changing to Hantaan hantanavirus, then Hantaan orthohantavirus, and most recently to the current Orthohantavirus hantanense.[2] In 1989, the method to diagnose Hantaan virus infection was developed by Lee and just a year later he developed a vaccine against it, which made him the first person in history to discover the cause of a viral disease, develop a method to diagnose it, and develop a vaccine against it.[23]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Genus: Orthohantavirus". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d "History of the taxon: Species: Orthohantavirus hantanense (2023 Release, MSL #39)". ictv.global. International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
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- ^ a b "1992 Laureates. Medicine. Ho-Wang Lee". Ho-Am Foundation. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "History of the taxon: Genus: Orthohantavirus (2023 Release, MSL #39)". ictv.global. International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 5 January 2025.