''Alphaherpesvirinae'' is a subfamily of viruses in the family ''
Herpesviridae
''Orthoherpesviridae'', previously named and more widely known as ''Herpesviridae'', is a large family of DNA viruses that cause infections and certain diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are commonly known as herp ...
'', primarily distinguished by reproducing more quickly than other subfamilies in the ''Herpesviridae''. In
animal virology
Veterinary virology is the study of viruses in non-human animals. It is an important branch of veterinary medicine.
Rhabdoviruses
Rhabdoviruses are a diverse family of single stranded, negative sense RNA viruses that infect a wide range of h ...
the most important herpesviruses belong to the Alphaherpesvirinae.
Pseudorabies virus is the causative agent of
Aujeszky's disease
Aujeszky's disease, usually called pseudorabies in the United States, is a viral disease in swine that is endemic in most parts of the world. It is caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV). Aujeszky's disease is considered to be the most economically ...
in pigs, and ''
Bovine herpesvirus 1'' is the causative agent of bovine infectious rhinotracheitis and pustular vulvovaginitis.
Mammals serve as natural hosts. There are currently 45 species in this subfamily, divided among 5 genera, with one species unassigned to a genus. Diseases associated with this subfamily include:
HHV-1 and
HHV-2: skin vesicles or mucosal ulcers, rarely encephalitis and meningitis,
HHV-3:
chickenpox
Chickenpox, also known as varicella ( ), is a highly contagious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family. The disease results in a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which ...
(varicella) and
shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster or zona, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide mark either on the left or right side of the body or face. T ...
,
GaHV-2:
Marek's disease
Marek's disease is a highly contagious viral neoplastic disease in chickens. It is named after József Marek, a Hungarian veterinarian who described it in 1907. Marek's disease is caused by an alphaherpesvirus commonly known as "Marek's disea ...
.
Genera
''Alphaherpesvirinae'' consists of the following five genera:
* ''
Iltovirus''
* ''
Mardivirus
''Mardivirus'' is a genus of viruses in the order ''Herpesvirales'', in the family ''Herpesviridae'', in the subfamily ''Alphaherpesvirinae''. Chickens, turkeys, and quail serve as natural hosts. There are six species in this genus. Diseases ass ...
''
* ''
Scutavirus''
* ''
Simplexvirus''
* ''
Varicellovirus''
The species ''
Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 6'' is currently unassigned to a genus.
Structure
Viruses in ''Alphaherpesvirinae'' are enveloped, with icosahedral, spherical to pleomorphic, and round geometries, and T=16 symmetry. The diameter is around 150-200 nm. Genomes are linear and non-segmented, around 120 to 180 kb in length.
Life cycle
Viral replication is nuclear and is lysogenic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral gB, gC, gD and gH proteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. Replication follows the dsDNA bidirectional replication model. DNA-templated transcription, with some alternative splicing mechanism is the method of transcription. Translation takes place by leaky scanning. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear egress, budding, and
microtubular
Microtubules are polymers of tubulin that form part of the cytoskeleton and provide structure and shape to eukaryotic cells. Microtubules can be as long as 50 micrometres, as wide as 23 to 27 nanometer, nm and have an inner diameter bet ...
outwards viral transport.
Mammals serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are sexual, contact, body fluids, lesions, and respiratory.
References
External links
*
Viralzone: ''Alphaherpesvirinae''ICTV
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1856108
Herpesviridae
Animal virology
Herpesvirales
Virus subfamilies