Structure Bunyavirus
morphology is somewhat similar to that of the
Paramyxoviridae family; bunyaviruses form enveloped, spherical virions with diameters of 80–120
nm. These viruses contain no matrix proteins. Instead, the viral surface glycoproteins which form a continuous layer on the virion surface are thought to play a role in the formation of new virions by budding from a cell membrane.
Genome Bunyaviruses have bi- or tripartite
genomes consisting of a large (L) and small(s), or large (L), medium (M), and small (S) RNA segment. These RNA segments are single-stranded, and exist in a helical formation within the virion. Besides, they exhibit a pseudo-circular structure due to each segment's complementary ends. The L segment encodes the
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, necessary for viral RNA replication and mRNA synthesis. The M segment encodes the viral
glycoproteins, which project from the viral surface and aid the virus in attaching to and entering the host cell. The S segment encodes the
nucleocapsid protein (N). Most bunyaviruses have a negative-sense L and M segment. The S segment of the genus
Phlebovirus, and both M and S segment of the genus
Tospovirus are
ambisense. Ambisense means that some of the genes on the RNA strand are negative sense and others are positive sense. The ambisense S segment codes for the viral
nucleoprotein (N) in the negative sense and a
nonstructural protein (NSs) in the positive sense. The ambisense M segment codes for
glycoprotein (GP) in the negative sense and a nonstructural protein (NSm) in the positive sense.
Life cycle The ambisense genome requires two rounds of transcription to be carried out. First, the negative-sense RNA is transcribed to produce mRNA and a full-length replicative intermediate. From this intermediate, a subgenomic mRNA encoding the small segment nonstructural protein is produced while the polymerase produced following the first round of transcription can now replicate the full-length RNA to produce viral genomes. Bunyaviruses replicate in the
cytoplasm, while the viral proteins transit through the
ER and
Golgi apparatus. Mature virions bud from the Golgi apparatus into vesicles which are transported to the cell surface.
Transmission Bunyaviruses infect
arthropods,
plants,
protozoans, and
vertebrates. and since identified in diverse insects including
moths,
wasps and bees, and other
true flies. == Taxonomy ==