Chandipura Virus

Abstract

Vesiculoviruses form a genus within the family Rhabdoviridae, order Mononegavirales and include important mammalian pathogens such as Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus, Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus, Piry virus, and Chandipura virus. The relatively simple genome organization and genetic makeup has encouraged the use of vesiculoviruses as model systems to understand distinct steps involved in the negative-strand RNA virus infection cycle. Chandipura virus, in particular, has recently emerged as a human pathogen that is associated with a number of outbreaks in different parts of India. Studies on Chandipura virus have generated mechanistic insights on the processes such as viral gene expression, replication, and encapsidation of newly synthesized viral genomic RNA. Comparison with other vesiculoviruses indicate that Chandipura virus utilizes strategies that are common among different vesiculoviruses as well as mechanisms that are distinct for this human pathogen. Currently, efforts are being made to use the available information to predict potential drug targets and develop means for antiviral therapeutic intervention.