Caister Academic Press

Genomic Organization of Arboviral Families

Nikos Vasilakis, Amy Lambert, N. James MacLachlan and Aaron C. Brault
from: Arboviruses: Molecular Biology, Evolution and Control (Edited by: Nikos Vasilakis and Duane J. Gubler). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2016) Pages: 31-44.

Abstract

Arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) are represented almost exclusively by viruses comprised of RNA genomes for which a number of genomic organization and replication strategies have been observed. Herein, we have reviewed five viral families that comprise the majority of arboviruses transmissible to humans and livestock including: alphaviruses (Togaviridae), flaviviruses (Flaviviridae), rhabdoviruses (Rhabdoviridae), bunyaviruses (Bunyaviridae) and reoviruses (Reoviridae). Descriptions of the overall genomic architecture, viral proteins and replicative strategies have been included and serve to compare and contrast the breadth of variation that can be observed among these diverse groups of viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. This diversity indicates the likelihood of convergence of disparate viral groups for arthropod transmission yet such a comparison can serve to highlight conserved genetic strategies between dipartite viruses for elucidation of the evolutionary pressures imposed by the necessity for replication in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts read more ...
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