Ross River virus: molecular and cellular aspects of disease pathogenesis

• Published in: Pharmacology & therapeutics (Oxford) 2005-09, Vol.107 (3), p.329-342
• Main Authors: Rulli, Nestor E, Suhrbier, Andreas, Hueston, Linda, Heise, Mark T, Tupanceska, Daniela, Zaid, Ali, Wilmes, Anja, Gilmore, Kerry, Lidbury, Brett A, Mahalingam, Surendran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alphavirus Infections - drug therapy; Alphavirus Infections - epidemiology; Alphavirus Infections - immunology; Alphavirus Infections - physiopathology; Animals; Antibody Formation; Australia - epidemiology; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Incidence; Inflammation; Macrophages; Mice; Pacific Islands - epidemiology; Ross River virus - pathogenicity; T-Lymphocytes; Viral Load; Viral Vaccines
• ISSN: 0163-7258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.03.006

Ross River virus (RRV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus indigenous to Australia and the Western Pacific region and is responsible for several thousand cases of human RRV disease (RRVD) per annum. The disease primarily involves polyarthritis/arthralgia, with many patients also presenting with rash, myalgia, fever, and/or lethargy. The symptoms can be debilitating at onset, but they usually resolve within 3-6 months. Recent insights into the RRV-host relationship, associated pathology, and molecular biology of infection have generated a number of potential avenues for improved treatment. Although vaccine development has been proposed, the small market size and potential for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of disease make this approach unattractive. Recent insights into the molecular basis of RRV-ADE and the virus's ability to manipulate host inflammatory and immune responses create potential new opportunities for therapeutic invention. Such interventions should overcome virus-induced dysregulation of protective host responses to promote viral clearance and/or ameliorate inflammatory immunopathology.