Semliki Forest virus

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Semliki Forest virus
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Kitrinoviricota
Class: Alsuviricetes
Order: Martellivirales
Family: Togaviridae
Genus: Alphavirus
Species:
Semliki Forest virus
EMDB entry EMD-1015[1]
)

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

nucleocapsid
.

Replication occurs via a

negative strand
intermediate giving rise to a full-length genomic RNA for export in new virions and a subgenomic message that is translated into the structural proteins.

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

cell lines.[9]

External videos
video icon Semliki Forest virus entry. 3 min.

See also

References

  1. PMID 10882067
    .
  2. ^ Smithburn, KC; Haddow, AJ (1944). "Semliki Forest Virus I. Isolation and Pathogenic Properties". J. Immunol. 49: 141–157.
  3. PMID 10501479
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