Understanding the alphaviruses: Recent research on important emerging pathogens and progress towards their control
Autor(es): Gould E A, Coutard B, Malet H, Morin B, Jamal S, Weaver S, Gorbalenya A, Moureau G, Baronti C, Delogu I, Forrester N, Khasnatinov M, Gritsun T, de Lamballerie X, Canard B
Resumo: The alphaviruses were amongst the first arboviruses to be isolated, characterized - assigned a taxonomic status. They are globally very widespread, infecting a large variety of terrestrial animals, insects - even fish, - circulate both in the sylvatic - urban/peri-urban environment, causing considerable human morbidity - mortality. Nevertheless, despite their obvious importance as pathogens, there are currently no effective antiviral drugs with which to treat humans or animals infected by any of these viruses. The EU-supported project-VIZIER (Comparative Structural Genomics of Viral Enzymes Involved in Replication, FP6 PROJECT: 2004-511960) was instigated with an ultimate view of contributing to the development of antiviral therapies for RNA viruses, including the alphaviruses [Coutard, B., Gorbalenya, A.E., Snijder, E.J., Leontovich, A.M., Poupon, A., De Lamballerie, X., Charrel, R., Gould, E.A., Gunther, S., Norder, H., Klempa, B., Bourhy, H., Rohayemj, J., L'hermite, E., Nordlund, P., Stuart, D.I., Owens, R.J., Grimes, J.M., Tuckerm, P.A., Bolognesi, M., Mattevi, A., Coll, M., Jones, T.A., Aqvist, J., Unger, T., Hilgenfeld, R., Bricogne, G., Neyts, J., La Colla, P., Puerstinger, G., Gonzalez, J.P., Leroy, E., Cambillau, C., Romette, J.L., Canard, B., 2008. The VIZIER project: preparedness against pathogenic RNA viruses. Antiviral Res. 78, 37-46]. This review highlights some of the major features of alphaviruses that have been investigated during recent years. After describing their classification, epidemiology - evolutionary history - the exp-ing geographic distribution of Chikungunya virus, we review progress in underst-ing the structure - function of alphavirus replicative enzymes achieved under the VIZIER programme - the development of new disease control strategies.
Palavras-Chave: Alphavirus; Genomics; Structure/function studies; Replicative enzymes; Antivirals; Evolution; Classification; Biogeography; VIZIER
Imprenta: Antiviral Research, v. 87, n. 2, p. 111-124, 2010
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.07.007
Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Arbovirus ; Chikungunya virus - Biosynthesis ; Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya virus - Proteins ; Chikungunya virus - RNA ; Chikungunya virus - Infectious diseases ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Epidemiology
Data de publicação: 2010
