Neglected filoviruses.
Eight viruses are currently assigned to the family Filoviridae Marburg virus, Sudan virus and, in particular, Ebola virus have received the most attention both by researchers and the public from 1967 to 2013. During this period, natural human filovirus disease outbreaks occurred sporadically in Equatorial Africa and, despite high case-fatality rates, never included more than several dozen to a few hundred infections per outbreak. Research emphasis shifted almost exclusively to Ebola virus in 2014, when this virus was identified as the cause of an outbreak that has thus far involved more than 28 646 people and caused more than 11 323 deaths in Western Africa. Consequently, major efforts are currently underway to develop licensed medical countermeasures against Ebola virus infection. However, the ecology of and mechanisms behind Ebola virus emergence are as little understood as they are for all other filoviruses. Consequently, the possibility of the future occurrence of a large disease outbreak caused by other less characterized filoviruses (i.e. Bundibugyo virus, Lloviu virus, Ravn virus, Reston virus and Taï Forest virus) is impossible to rule out. Yet, for many of these viruses, not even rudimentary research tools are available, let alone medical countermeasures. This review summarizes the current knowledge on these less well-characterized filoviruses.
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.|Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Robin
R
Burk
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Laura
L
Bollinger
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Joshua C
JC
Johnson
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Jiro
J
Wada
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Sheli R
SR
Radoshitzky
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Gustavo
G
Palacios
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Sina
S
Bavari
Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Peter B
PB
Jahrling
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Jens H
JH
Kuhn
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D016563:Filoviridae; D018702:Filoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*
Ebola; Filoviridae; cuevavirus; ebolavirus; filovirus; marburgvirus