Zika virus is
a single-stranded RNA virus
of the Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus
What type of genome does the Zika virus have?
The ZIKV genome is
a single-stranded positive-sense RNA
approximately 11 kb in length. The viral genome consists of a single open reading frame (ORF) flanked with 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs). The ORF encodes 3 structural proteins and 7 nonstructural proteins (2).
What is the Zika virus made of?
The surface of the flavivirus is composed of a shell made of
180 copies of both an envelope glycoprotein and 1 of 2 other proteins anchored in a lipid membrane
. The researchers found that the Zika virus structure is similar to that of other known flaviviruses, except for one region of the envelope glycoprotein.
Is Nipah virus RNA or DNA?
Nipah virus, an enveloped, non-segmented,
negative-stranded RNA virus
is a recently discovered zoonotic virus belonging to the genus Henipavirus of the Paramyxoviridae family [1,2].
Is Zika virus positive or negative RNA?
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped,
positive-sense
, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family
1
.
Is dengue an RNA virus?
Dengue Virus Genome and Structure
The dengue virus genome is
a single strand of RNA
. It is referred to as positive-sense RNA because it can be directly translated into proteins. The viral genome encodes ten genes (Figure 2).
What does Zika virus look like?
The rash is a combination of
tiny red bumps and reddish blotches
. Other mosquito-borne infections have similar rashes, including dengue and chikungunya. These are classified as flaviviruses . But unlike these other flavivirus rashes, the Zika rash was reported to be itchy in 79 percent of cases.
Is Nipah virus single-stranded?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a
nonsegmented, single-stranded
, negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Henipavirus, family Paramyxoviridae. NiV causes acute encephalitis and respiratory disease in humans, is associated with high mortality, and poses a threat in southern Asia.
Does the Zika virus have an envelope?
Zika virions are comprised of
an envelope
and a nucleocapsid. The virus particles are spherical and small in size (approximately 50 nm in diameter) with an electron-dense core approximately 30 nm in diameter. The virion surface contains envelope protein (E) dimers and membrane (M) proteins in icosahedral-like symmetry.
How does the Zika virus multiply?
Zika virus is transmitted primarily through the
bite of an infected female mosquito
. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person who is infected with the virus. The virus then replicates and spreads within the mosquito so that when the infected mosquito bites again, the virus is spread to another person.
What is the death rate of Zika?
Considering the currently confirmed cases of microcephaly and related deaths associated with Zika virus in Brazil, the estimated case fatality rate is
8.3% (95% confidence interval: 7.2-9.6)
.
What is Giga virus?
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is spread by the Aedes mosquito, the same species that transmits the dengue and chikungunya viruses. Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, Aedes is most active during the day.
Who is most at risk for Zika virus?
The overall estimated incidence of confirmed and presumptive Zika virus disease was 844 cases per 100,000 residents. The highest incidences were in
persons aged 20–29 years
(1,150 cases per 100,000 residents), and 10–19 years (1,111 per 100,000) (Figure 1) when pregnant women were included.
What does the Hendra virus do?
Hendra virus is a virus that
mainly infects large fruit bats (flying foxes) which can be passed on to horses
. The infection has occasionally been passed onto people who have been in close contact with an infected horse.
What is the future of dengue?
Scientists are currently developing five types of vaccines to protect people from dengue infections: (a)
live attenuated vaccines
, (b) chimeric live attenuated vaccines, (c) inactivated vaccines, (d) subunit vaccines, and (e) nucleic acid-based vaccines.
What are four RNA viruses that jumped from animals to humans?
Most viral diseases of humans are zoonotic in origin, having been historically transmitted to human populations from various animal species; examples include
SARS, Ebola, swine flu, rabies, and avian influenza
.
