Ectromelia virus: Difference between revisions

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Line 6: Line 6:
What host/s is/are involved?  Is there host specificity?  Are there secondary reservoirs?
What host/s is/are involved?  Is there host specificity?  Are there secondary reservoirs?
[[File:Ixodes.jpg|thumb|''Mus musculus'' mouse [http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html CDC]]]
[[File:Ixodes.jpg|thumb|''Mus musculus'' mouse [http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html CDC]]]
The host of ECTV is "Mus musculus", better known as the mouse (book). While all mice are susceptible to the infection, clinical disease and mortality of mice is dependent upon virus and mouse strain. Mice strains highly susceptible to ECTV include A, CBA, C3H, DBA/2, and BALB/c while those that appear to be most resistant to infection include C57BL/6 and C57BL/10. The infection is not commonly seen among commercial colonies of mice but rather in research laboratories that exchange mouse tissues, live mice, transplantable mouse tumors, and mouse sere (book, Chen, estaban).  
The host of ECTV is ''Mus musculus'', better known as the mouse (book). While all mice are susceptible to the infection, clinical disease and mortality of mice is dependent upon virus and mouse strain. Mice strains highly susceptible to ECTV include A, CBA, C3H, DBA/2, and BALB/c while those that appear to be most resistant to infection include C57BL/6 and C57BL/10. The infection is not commonly seen among commercial colonies of mice but rather in research laboratories that exchange mouse tissues, live mice, transplantable mouse tumors, and mouse sere (book, Chen, estaban).  


The natural reservoir of ECTV is unknown but it is suggested that wild mice may be involved as ECTV has a narrow host range infecting only certain species of mice (CHen). In laboratory studies, wild mice species including "Mus caroli", "Mus cookii", and "Mus cervicolor popaeus" are highly susceptible to experimental infection than other species of mice (book).
The natural reservoir of ECTV is unknown but it is suggested that wild mice may be involved as ECTV has a narrow host range infecting only certain species of mice (CHen). In laboratory studies, wild mice species including ''Mus caroli'', ''Mus cookii'', and ''Mus cervicolor popaeus'' are highly susceptible to experimental infection than other species of mice (book).


==Host-Symbiont Interaction ==
==Host-Symbiont Interaction ==

Revision as of 16:21, 5 December 2011

Characteristics of Ectromelia virus

Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is a zoonotic viral disease. It belongs to the Poxviridae family of the genus Orthopoxvirus and is among the species of Vaccinia virus. Virions are oval or brick-shaped with a dimension of approximately 175 X 290 nm. It has a linear, double-stranded DNA genome that is 209,771 bp, surronded by a layer of lipids. (1.,2., book. This host-specialized virus infects with high efficiency, with the ability to spread systematically within its host and be effectively transmitted to others (N1L).

Characteristics of the host

What host/s is/are involved? Is there host specificity? Are there secondary reservoirs?

Mus musculus mouse CDC

The host of ECTV is Mus musculus, better known as the mouse (book). While all mice are susceptible to the infection, clinical disease and mortality of mice is dependent upon virus and mouse strain. Mice strains highly susceptible to ECTV include A, CBA, C3H, DBA/2, and BALB/c while those that appear to be most resistant to infection include C57BL/6 and C57BL/10. The infection is not commonly seen among commercial colonies of mice but rather in research laboratories that exchange mouse tissues, live mice, transplantable mouse tumors, and mouse sere (book, Chen, estaban).

The natural reservoir of ECTV is unknown but it is suggested that wild mice may be involved as ECTV has a narrow host range infecting only certain species of mice (CHen). In laboratory studies, wild mice species including Mus caroli, Mus cookii, and Mus cervicolor popaeus are highly susceptible to experimental infection than other species of mice (book).

Host-Symbiont Interaction

What kind of interaction do host and symbiont have? How is the host affected by the relationship? How does the host acquire and transmit the symbiont? Is the interaction obligate or facultative?

The incubation period for the virus is approximately 7 to 10 days (book). The skin is the natural route of the infection through abrasions in the skin. The virus is then able to replicate in the epidermis layer of the skin and then spread from the release of virual progeny from the initial infected site. Primary viraemia is a result of the virus' release into the bloodstream, causing infection of the spleen, liver, and other central organs. Secondary viraemia is due to the release of the virus from infected organs which results in infection of the skin.

Molecular Insights into the Symbiosis

Describe molecular/genetic studies on the symbiosis. The poxvirus family is characterized by a similar organization of highly conserved essential genes mostly involved in the replication of the virus in the center and unique genes involved in virus-host interactions in the terminal regions.[2]

Ecological and Evolutionary Aspects

What is the evolutionary history of the interaction? Do particular environmental factors play a role in regulating the symbiosis? The original strain of ECTV, the Hampstead strain, was first discovered in a laboratory-mouse colony in 1930 by Marchal in England who called it "infectious ectromelia" (book). Since it's discovery, other ECTV strains have been isolated from various outbreaks around the world, with different disease severity.[2]These include the Moscow, Hampstead and N1H79 strains, which are the most thoroughly studied and understood. Of these recognized strains, Moscow is the most virulent and infectious (book, chen, esteben).

Recent Discoveries

Describe two findings on the symbiosis published within the last two years.

References

1. Chen, N et al. (2003). The genomic sequences of ectromelia virus, the causative agent of mousepox. Virology. 1: 165-86.

2. Esteban, D. and Buller, L. (2005). Ectromelia virus: the causative agent of mousepox. Virology. 86: 2645-2659.

Edited by [Elizabeth Stanley], students of Grace Lim-Fong

This template is just a general guideline of how to design your site. You are not restricted to this format, so feel free to make changes to the headings and subheadings and to add or remove sections as appropriate.