Arterivirus

The Arteriviridae are a family of enveloped viruses within the order Nidovirales. The name is derived from Arteriviridae disease " Equine arteritis ", which is caused by a virus of the family.

Taxonomy

The Arteriviridae family includes only the genus arterivirus. This genus contains four species which are of importance in veterinary medicine.

Virus structure

The virions have a diameter of about 45 to 60 nm, the icosahedral or spherical nucleocapsid is surrounded by a membrane envelope, which contains the following, among other viral proteins:

  • E ( envelope, English:. Envelope)
  • GP2
  • GP3
  • GP4
  • GP5
  • M ( matrix protein)

GP stands for glycoprotein.

Genome

Arteriviruses have a genome of 12.7 to 15.7 kb in length which is present as single-stranded RNA of positive polarity. Positive polarity means that the viral RNA can act in the host cell directly as mRNA. The viral RNA is surrounded by a helical capsid.

Replication

The replication takes place in the cytoplasm in close association with the endoplasmic reticulum ( ER) of the host cell instead. The assembly of the virions and budding occurs at intracellular membranes, most likely at the ER. The completed virions are released by exocytosis.

Hosts

The arteriviruses infect, depending on the virus species: horses, pigs, mice and monkeys.

Properties

One common feature of viral species within the Arteriviridae are their target cells, ie, cells in which the virus multiplies. Arteriviruses infect especially the macrophages in the lung. To which the virus can persist in the body of the species concerned.

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