Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus: insight the Filoviridae family.
Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus (belonging to the Filoviridae family) emerged four decades ago and cause epidemics of haemorrhagic fever with high case-fatality rates. The genome of filoviruses encodes seven proteins. No significant homology is observed between filovirus proteins and any known macromolecule. Moreover, Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus show significant differences in protein homology. The natural maintenance cycle of filoviruses is unknown, the natural reservoir, the mode of transmission, the epidemic disease generation, and temporal dynamics are unclear. Lastly, Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus are considered as potential biological weapons. Vaccine appears the unique therapeutic frontier. Here, molecular and clinical aspects of filoviral haemorrhagic fevers are summarized.
National Institute for Infectious Diseases IRCCS Lazzaro Spallanzani, Via Portuense 292, I-00149 Roma, Italy.
Paolo
P
Ascenzi
Alessio
A
Bocedi
Julia
J
Heptonstall
Maria Rosaria
MR
Capobianchi
Antonino
A
Di Caro
Eloise
E
Mastrangelo
Martino
M
Bolognesi
Giuseppe
G
Ippolito
D000818:Animals; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018702:Filoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D019065:Virus Assembly
D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D014765:Viral Vaccines