Functional Expression. Ephrin Receptor Tropism, and Heterotypic Functionality of the Attachment and Fusion Glycoproteins of Cedar Virus, a Newly Discovered Henipavirus

• Main Author: Petzing,Stephanie R
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal diseases; Bats; Cedar virus; Glycoproteins; Henipavirus; tropism; viruses; Zoonotic diseases

The genus Henipavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae presently contains two members, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), which are emerging zoonotic agents capable of causing serious disease in both humans and a variety of mammalian species. The reservoir hosts of henipaviruses are known to be several species of Pteropus fruit bats, and the mechanisms by which bats are able to tolerate infection with these highly pathogenic viruses are of great interest. With the recent isolation of P. alecto and Rousetteus. aegyptiacus cell lines, work is underway to identity potential bat cellular factors uniquely influencing viral dynamics. Serological surveys have detected antibodies to henipaviruses or henipa-like viruses in bats over a large geographic area, from the eastern coast of Australia to Ghana in West Africa. Despite this broad range of seropositivity in bats, HeV and NiV outbreaks have only been described in Australia, Malaysia, India, and Bangladesh, suggesting that bat populations might carry undiscovered viruses antigenically related to the henipaviruses. This has recently been confirmed by the discovery of Cedar virus (CedPV), the first new proposed member of the Henipavirus genus.