Understanding the alphaviruses: Recent research on important emerging pathogens and progress towards their control

Gould, E.A.; Coutard, B.; Malet, H.; Morin, B.; Jamal, S.; Weaver, S.; Gorbalenya, A.; Moureau, G.; Baronti, C.; Delogu, I.; Forrester, N.; Khasnatinov, M.; Gritsun, T.; de Lamballerie, X.; Canard, B.. 2010 Understanding the alphaviruses: Recent research on important emerging pathogens and progress towards their control. Antiviral Research, 87. 111-124. 10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.07.007

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.07.007

Abstract/Summary

The alphaviruses were amongst the first arboviruses to be isolated, characterized and assigned a taxonomic status. They are globally very widespread, infecting a large variety of terrestrial animals, insects and even fish, and circulate both in the sylvatic and urban/peri-urban environment, causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, despite their obvious importance as pathogens, there are currently no effective antiviral drugs with which to treat humans or animals infected by any of these viruses. The EU-supported project—VIZIER (Comparative Structural Genomics of Viral Enzymes Involved in Replication, FP6 Project: 2004-511960) was instigated with an ultimate view of contributing to the development of antiviral therapies for RNA viruses, including the alphaviruses [Coutard, B., Gorbalenya, A.E., Snijder, E.J., Leontovich, A.M., Poupon, A., De Lamballerie, X., Charrel, R., Gould, E.A., Gunther, S., Norder, H., Klempa, B., Bourhy, H., Rohayemj, J., L’hermite, E., Nordlund, P., Stuart, D.I., Owens, R.J., Grimes, J.M., Tuckerm, P.A., Bolognesi, M., Mattevi, A., Coll, M., Jones, T.A., Åqvist, J., Unger, T., Hilgenfeld, R., Bricogne, G., Neyts, J., La Colla, P., Puerstinger, G., Gonzalez, J.P., Leroy, E., Cambillau, C., Romette, J.L., Canard, B., 2008. The VIZIER project: preparedness against pathogenic RNA viruses. Antiviral Res. 78, 37–46]. This review highlights some of the major features of alphaviruses that have been investigated during recent years. After describing their classification, epidemiology and evolutionary history and the expanding geographic distribution of Chikungunya virus, we review progress in understanding the structure and function of alphavirus replicative enzymes achieved under the VIZIER programme and the development of new disease control strategies.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.07.007
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 2 - Ecological Processes in the Environment
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hails
ISSN:	0166-3542
Additional Keywords:	alphavirus, genomics, structure/function studies, replicative enzymes, antivirals, evolution, classification, biogeography VIZIER
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	16 Aug 2010 12:52 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9229

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.07.007

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 2 - Ecological Processes in the Environment

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Hails

ISSN:

0166-3542

Additional Keywords:

alphavirus, genomics, structure/function studies, replicative enzymes, antivirals, evolution, classification, biogeography VIZIER