Bunyaviruses: Introduction and Index

Bunyaviruses constitute a very large family of RNA viruses currently composed of more than 300 identified members, some of which are highly important pathogens of vertebrates. All members of this group are enveloped and have a genome consisting of three segments of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA. Many, but not all, bunyaviruses are transmitted by infected arthropods (mosquitoes, ticks, or sandflies).

Considering the large number of viruses in this group, it is not surprising that taxonomic classification has been challenging, even contentious. The classification presented here is based on the somewhat classical grouping of these viruses into five genera. Hantaviruses, nairoviruses, orthobunyaviruses, and phleboviruses are pathogens of animals, while tospoviruses infect only plants.

Biology of Bunyaviruses

• Bunyavirus Taxonomy
• Bunyavirus Structure, Genome, and Proteins
• Replication of Bunyaviruses

Hantaviruses

• Overview of diseases caused by Hantaviruses
• Andes virus
• Hantaan virus
• Sin Nombre virus
• Seoul virus

Nairoviruses

• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
• Nairobi sheep disease and Ganjam viruses

Orthobunyaviruses

• Oropouche virus

Phleoboviruses

• Rift Valley fever virus

Supplemental Topics

Send comments to Richard.Bowen@colostate.edu