The Open Virology Journal

2010, 4 : 8-14
Published online 2010 April 22. DOI: 10.2174/1874357901004010008
Publisher ID: TOVJ-4-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Molecular Biology of Rift Valley Fever Virus

Michele Bouloy1 and Friedemann Weber, *,2
1 Unite de Genetique Moleculaire des Bunyavirus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
2 Department of Virology, University of Freiburg, D-79008 Freiburg, Germany

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Virology, University of Freiburg, D-79008 Freiburg, Germany; Tel: +49-761-203-6614; Fax: +49-761-203-6634; E-mail: friedemann.weber@uniklinik-freiburg.de

ABSTRACT

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes large outbreaks of acute febrile and often fatal illness among humans and domesticated animals in sub-saharan Africa and the Arabian peninsula. RVFV is a member of the family Bunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus. Like all members of this large virus family, it contains a three-segmented genome of negative/ambisense strand RNA, packaged into viral nucleocapsid protein, and enveloped by a lipid bilayer containing two viral glycoproteins. During the past years, there was an increased interest in RVFV epidemiology, molecular biology, and virulence mechanisms. Here, we will try to provide an overview over the basic features of this significant pathogen, and review the latest developments in this highly active research field.

Keywords:

Rift Valley fever, reverse genetics, non-structural proteins, interferon antagonism..