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Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
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Mapping the evolutionary trajectories of morbilliviruses: what, where and whither

Sham Nambulli1, Claire R Sharp2, Andrew S Acciardo1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.

Current Opinion in Virology
|February 28, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Morbilliviruses, including measles virus (MV), are highly transmissible pathogens. Understanding cross-species infection barriers is crucial for preventing future outbreaks and potential eradication efforts.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Morbilliviruses infect humans and animals, with live attenuated vaccines successfully controlling measles virus (MV) and eradicating rinderpest.
  • MV is the most infectious human pathogen, necessitating research into its transmission and host adaptation.
  • Novel morbilliviruses are increasingly identified in diverse mammalian populations, highlighting potential zoonotic risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the barriers restricting morbillivirus cross-species infections.
  • To understand the evolutionary origins and host adaptability of morbilliviruses.
  • To inform strategies for potential measles virus eradication and control of emerging morbillivirus threats.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of morbillivirus entry mechanisms mediated by distinct viral receptors.
  • Review of ecological data on novel morbillivirus identification in various animal hosts.
  • Comparative studies on virus-host interactions and transmissibility.

Main Results:

  • Morbillivirus entry depends on specific receptors, influencing tropism (lymphotropic and epitheliotropic).
  • Unparalleled transmissibility observed, particularly for measles virus.
  • Obscure evolutionary origins and poorly understood host adaptability present significant research gaps.

Conclusions:

  • Dissecting cross-species infection barriers is imperative for managing morbillivirus threats.
  • Understanding host adaptation potential is key to predicting and preventing spillover events.
  • Continued ecological surveillance and molecular research are vital for morbillivirus control and eradication.

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