Seneca Valley virus-001

The genus Senecavirus currently includes only one species of non-enveloped virus of the family Picornaviridae, the eponymous for the genus Seneca Valley Virus ( SVV). This virus is so far the only known non-pathogenic picornavirus. In its natural form it is able to destroy tumor cells of some specific types of brain tumor; so that it has the property of an oncolytic virus.

The SIA was isolated in 2002 by accident in a company for Gene Therapy in Gaithersburg (Maryland). When searching for contamination of cell cultures ( fetal retinoblastoma cells transformed, ) were removed from the culture medium of a PER.C6 cell line several porcine picornaviruses isolated, one of which turned out to be a new virus that was eventually published in 2005 as a newly characterized virus. Since the company is located in Gaithersburg in the so-called Seneca Valley ( area of ​​Little Seneca Lakes and Seneca Creeks ), the virus was named after it. After its identification, it could be discovered in various domestic pigs from pig farms in the United States.

Genome structure and

The genome consists of a single, linear einzelstränigen RNA with positive polarity and is 7310 nt long with the previously only known serotype SVV -001. The non-coding region at the 5'- end is 666 nt in length and contains an IRES type IV, having a similarity to the structure of the pestivirus IRES. At the 3 ' end is also a 71 nt long non-coding region, which is typical with their potential secondary structures to form a kissing - loops to both RNA ends merge during RNA replication and Rolling Circle The greatest sequence similarity to members of the genus cardio virus and aphthovirus. As compared to the virus and the cardio Erboviren but lacking the SIA two necessary for the catalytic function Aminsosäurepositionen, which usually allow the function of a protease, and phosphorylase. This may be one reason for the lack of disease in the natural host.

The 32.5 nm in diameter, large, non-enveloped capsid of the SIA consists of the four capsid proteins VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4 ( VP of virus protein). The outer protein domains of VP1 and VP2 convey very likely binding to the host cell and thus the virus cell tropism.

Biological Properties

The natural host of the SIA are probably pigs from which the virus can be isolated, but at the same time show no symptoms of disease. Antibodies against the SIA could also be found in other farm animals, as in cattle and sheep. In humans, one finds no anti- SVV antibody. On the cell culture in which the virus was discovered, it seems likely to be passing through fetal calf or piglet serum that was used to culture the cells.

The SIA has in addition to the natural cell tropism in the host animal in addition to the cell culture tropism for neuroendocrine tumor cells, such as retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and small cell lung cancer. This infectable in vitro cells are destroyed during virus replication. For this reason, the SIA is considered as a potentially applicable in the treatment of these tumors, oncolytic virus. Unlike other by modifying the genome artificially generated oncolytic viruses, the SIA is the only known naturally occurring.

System

• Genus Senecavirus

• Species Seneca Valley virus

• Serotype Seneca Valley virus USA/SVV-001