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00.003.0.01. Arenavirus

Cite this publication as: ICTVdB Management (2006). 00.003.0.01. Arenavirus. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 4. Büchen-Osmond, C. (Ed), Columbia University, New York, USA

Cite this site as: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/

Table of Contents

Classification

This is a description of a vertebrate virus at the genus level.

ICTVdB Virus Code: 00.003.0.01. Virus accession number: 003001GE. Obsolete virus code: 03.0.1.; superceded accession number: 03010000.
NCBI Taxon Identifier NCBI Taxonomy ID: 11618.

Name, Synonyms and Lineage

Synonym(s): LCM virus group. Virus is of the family 00.003. Arenaviridae.

Virion Properties

Morphology

Virions consist of an envelope and a nucleocapsid. Virus capsid is enveloped. Virions are spherical to pleomorphic measuring (50-)110-130(-300) nm in diameter. The envelope surrounds probably two nucleocapsids; has surface projections. Surface projections are distinctive club-shaped peplomers that are spaced widely apart and covering evenly the surface; embedded in a lipid bilayer which is comprises surface glycoproteins (GP). Surface projections are composed of one type of protein. Surface projections are 8-10 nm long. Host ribosomes are seen inside the envelope (in varying numbers). Capsid/nucleocapsid is elongated with helical symmetry. Virions consist of two nucleocapsids. The nucleocapsid is filamentous and forming a closed circle; has a "string of beads" appearance; with a varying length with a length of 1000-1300 nm (L segment, 450-640 nm (S segment) and a width of 3-4 nm. Nucleocapsid contains a polymerase complex and a nucleoprotein complex. Nucleocapsids are isolated nucleocapsids, free of contaminating host ribosomes organized in closed circles and display a linear array of nucleosomal subunits.









Diagram and electron micrograph of arenavirus.

Physicochemical and Physical Properties

Virions have a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.19-1.2 g cm-3; sucrose of 1.17-1.18 g cm-3; amidotrizoate compounds of 1.14 g cm-3. The sedimentation coefficient is 325-500 S20w. The thermal inactivation point (TIP) is at 56°C. Under in vitro conditions virions are stable when stored at -70°C; inactivated in acid environment of pH 5.5 (and below, inactivated in alkaline environment of pH 8.5 (and above). Virions are sensitive to treatment with organic solvents (and infectivity is inactivated). The infectivity is reduced after exposure to irradiation (UV and gamma-irradiation).

Nucleic Acid

The Mr of the genome constitutes 2% of the virion by weight. The genome is segmented and consists of two segments of linear, negative-sense to ambisense, single-stranded RNA. The genome is transcriptional inactive. Minor species of non-genomic nucleic acid are also found in virions. The encapsidated nucleic acid is mainly of genomic origin, but virions may also contain subgenomic RNA and nucleic acid of host origin including three molecules of host rRNA (of cellular origin with sedimentation coefficients of 28S, 18S and 4-6S, virions may contain three subgenomic nucleic acid species; virions may contain mRNA derived from genomic S RNA (for the precursor of protein N and the precursor of protein GPC), or L RNA (for the Z protein). RNA segments are not homologous. The complete genome is about 10000-11000 nucleotides long. The RNA-L is sequenced and complete sequence is about 7400 nucleotides long. RNA-S is is about about 3400 nucleotides long. The genome has a guanine + cytosine content of 40-45 %. The genome has a virus coded terminal protein which is circular, but not covalently closed. Nucleotide sequences at the 3'-terminus are largely complementary to similar regions on the 5' end. The 5'-end of the genome does not have cap. The 3'-terminus has conserved nucleotide sequences; in all segments and species of same genus; sequence has 19-30 nucleotides in length; in S RNA. The intergenic region has S a hairpin configuration (potential depending on virus). The multipartite genome is encapsidated, each segment in a separate nucleocapsid, and the nucleocapsids are surrounded by one envelope. Each virion contains multiple copies of the genome; often segments of the genome in non-equimolar proportions (due to frequent packaging of S RNA strands).

GenBank records for nucleotide sequences; complete genome sequences.

Proteins

Proteins constitute about 70% of the particle weight.

The viral genome encodes structural proteins and non-structural proteins. Virions consist of 5 structural protein(s) located in the envelope and ribonucleoprotein complex.

Structural Proteins: Envelope protein GPC has a molecular mass of 75000-76000 Da. Envelope protein has a function assigned; is formation of tetrameric forming the viral spikes (GP-1 and GP-2, during post-translational processing envelope protein has been cleaved from the precursor protein (into GP-1 (G1) and GP-2 (G2), during post-translational processing envelope protein modifications occur that include glycosylation. Envelope protein GP-1 or G1; has a molecular mass of 44000 Da; is interacting with viral receptors; which possess(es) virus neutralization activity; during post-translational processing envelope protein modifications occur that include glycosylation. Envelope protein GP-2 or G2 has a molecular mass of 34000-44000 Da; is involved in membrane fusion for viral entry (which is acid dependent (pH 4.5-5.5), during post-translational processing envelope protein modifications occur that include glycosylation. Nucleocapsid protein N or NP; has a molecular mass of 63000-72000 Da; is binding to the genomic RNA and forming a ribonucleoprotein complex. Nucleocapsid protein Z or p11; has a molecular mass of 10000-14000 Da; is a putative zinc binding protein and forming an internal structural component.

Non-Structural Proteins: 3-4 non-structural protein(s) are found. The virus codes for enzymes and genome associated polypeptides; an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In addition to the polymerase, the virus codes for enzymes such as transcriptase, replicase, proteinase (poly(U) and poly(A) polymerases, 1 internal protein(s). Non-structural protein L protein, an RNA dependent RNA polymerase; has a molecular mass of 25 kDa.

Lipids

Lipids are present and located in the envelope. Virions are composed of 20% lipids by weight. The composition of viral lipids and host cell membranes are similar. The lipids are of host origin and are derived from plasma membranes.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are found in virions; constitute 8% of virion dry weight; are present as glycoproteins; are complex glycans.




















Arenavirus genome map.

Genome Organization and Replication

Virions attach to undefined receptors to enter host cells via the endosomal route.

The process of intracellular uncoating of virions occurs in the cytoplasm and the viral nucleic acid is delivered to the cell cytoplasm, the site of mRNA transcription.

Transcription: The viral genome is transcribed by a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase into 2 mRNAs (N and L mRNA). The transcribed mRNAs are subgenomic in a viral-complementary sense.

Antigenicity

Sequence homologies more than 50% between species.

Biological Properties

Natural Host

Virus infects during its life cycle a variety of vertebrate hosts. Virus has an enzootic cycle and is transmitted from rodents to humans, or rodents to other vertebrates. Domain Viral hosts belong to the Domain Eucarya.

Domain Eucarya
Kingdom Animalia.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata.

Phylum Vertebrata
Subphylum Vertebrata; Class Mammalia.

Class Mammalia Order Rodentia and Primates;
Family Hominidae.
Virus infects Homo sapiens (human, Suborder Sciurognathi; Family Muridae; Subfamily Murinae; virus infects Genus Mus musculus (mouse).

Ecology, Epidemiology and Control

A fact sheet on this virus is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

Taxonomic Structure of the Genus

Type species 00.003.0.01.001. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus .

Species in the Genus

List of Species in the Genus.

Data Sources and Contributions

The description has been compiled from data in the ICTV Report presented by Buchmeier MJ, Clegg JCS, Franze-Fernandez MT, Kolakofsky D, Peters CJ, Southern PJ.

References

Medline References.

The following generic references are cited in the most recent ICTV Report.

PubMed References.



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DELTA - DEscription Language for TAxonomy developed by Dr Mike Dallwitz, Toni Paine and Eric Zurcher, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia. ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, developed for the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond is written in DELTA. The virus descriptions in ICTVdB are coded by, or using data from experts in the field of virology or members ICTV. The character list is the underlying code. All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations are automatically generated and formatted for display on the Web from the descriptions in DELTA-format. The description has been generated automatically from DELTA files. DELTA - DEscription Language for TAxonomy developed by Dr Mike Dallwitz, Toni Paine and Eric Zurcher, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia.

ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, developed for the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond, is written in DELTA. The virus descriptions in ICTVdB are coded by ICTV members and experts, or by the ICTVdB Management using data provided by the experts, the literature or the latest ICTV Report. The character list is the underlying code. All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations from the encoded descriptions are automatically generated and formatted for display on the Web.

Developer of the DELTA software: M. J. Dallwitz, T. Paine and E. Zurcher

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Last updated on 25 April 2006 by Cornelia Büchen-Osmond
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