Semliki Forest virus
Semliki Forest virus | |
---|---|
Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Kitrinoviricota |
Class: | Alsuviricetes |
Order: | Martellivirales |
Family: | Togaviridae |
Genus: | Alphavirus |
Species: | Semliki Forest virus
|
The Semliki Forest virus is an alphavirus found in central, eastern, and southern Africa. It was first isolated from mosquitoes in the Semliki Forest, Uganda by the Uganda Virus Research Institute in 1942 and described by Smithburn and Haddow.[2] It is known to cause disease in animals and humans.
The Semliki Forest virus is a
Replication occurs via a
Semliki Forest virus is spread mainly by mosquito bites. It is not able to infect mammals through inhalation or gastrointestinal exposure, although rodents in the laboratory can be infected by intranasal instillation. The virus is able to cause a lethal encephalitis in rodents,[4] but generally only mild symptoms in humans.[5] Only one lethal human infection has been reported. In this one case, the patient was speculated to be immunodeficient and potentially had been exposed to large amounts of virus in the laboratory.[6]
Semliki Forest virus has been used extensively in biological research as a model of the viral life cycle and of viral neuropathy. Due to its broad host range and efficient replication, it has also been developed as a vector for genes encoding vaccines and anti-cancer agents,[7] and as a tool in gene therapy.[8]
Since Semliki Forest virus naturally infects cells of the central nervous system, it has been pre-clinically tested as an
External videos | |
---|---|
Semliki Forest virus entry. 3 min. |
See also
References
- Gomez De Cedrón, M.; Ehsani, N.; Mikkola, M. L.; García, J. A.; Kääriäinen, L. (1999). "RNA helicase activity of Semliki Forest virus replicase protein NSP2". FEBS Letters. 448 (1): 19–22. PMID 10217401.
- Hardy, P. A.; Mazzini, M. J.; Schweitzer, C.; Lundstrom, K.; Glode, L. M. (2000). "Recombinant Semliki forest virus infects and kills human prostate cancer cell lines and prostatic duct epithelial cells ex vivo". International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 5 (3): 241–245. PMID 10677563.