Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Orthohantaviruses, Emerging Zoonotic Pathogens
Emmanuel Kabwe1,2, Yuriy Davidyuk1, Anton Shamsutdinov1
1Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia.
Abstract:
Orthohantaviruses give rise to the emerging infections such as of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Eurasia and the Americas, respectively. In this review we will provide a comprehensive analysis of orthohantaviruses distribution and circulation in Eurasia and address the genetic diversity and evolution of Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV), which causes HFRS in this region. Current data indicate that the geographical location and migration of the natural hosts can lead to the orthohantaviruses genetic diversity as the rodents adapt to the new environmental conditions. The data shows that a high level of diversity characterizes the genome of orthohantaviruses, and the PUUV genome is the most divergent. The reasons for the high genome diversity are mainly caused by point mutations and reassortment, which occur in the genome segments. However, it still remains unclear whether this diversity is linked to the disease's severity. We anticipate that the information provided in this review will be useful for optimizing and developing preventive strategies of HFRS, an emerging zoonosis with potentially very high mortality rates.
Related Concept Videos
Viral Recombination
Viral Mutations
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Retroviruses
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Viruses of Archaea

