Host Defense Evasion Mechanisms of Rabies Virus: Difference between revisions
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==Rabies Virus== | ==Rabies Virus== | ||
<br>Rabies virus (RABV) is a prototypical neurotropic virus and is often counted as one of the most deadly zoonotic diseases. Both wild and domestic animals can be afflicted with the disease and it is most commonly spread to humans via the saliva of an infected animal entering a bite wound or scratch. In Asia, most rabies infections are caused by rabid dogs. However in the Americas, and recently Australia and Western Europe, bat rabies has become a public health threat. Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica, but the majority of rabies related deaths occur in Asia and Africa (WHO). | <br>Rabies virus (RABV) is a prototypical neurotropic virus and is often counted as one of the most deadly zoonotic diseases. Both wild and domestic animals can be afflicted with the disease and it is most commonly spread to humans via the saliva of an infected animal entering a bite wound or scratch. In Asia, most rabies infections are caused by rabid dogs. However in the Americas, and recently Australia and Western Europe, bat rabies has become a public health threat. Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica, but the majority of rabies related deaths occur in Asia and Africa (WHO fact sheet 99). | ||
RABV infections occur mainly in remote, rural communities where measures such as vaccinating dogs to prevent animal to human transmission have not occurred. Due to lack of resources and preventative measures, 95% of rabies related human deaths occur in Africa and Asia. Most at risk populations generally do not have the ability to access nor the money for the rabies vaccine or post-exposure prophylaxis, turning a rabies infection into a death sentence (WHO). Most patients only survive for seven days after the onset of symptoms (Schnell et al 2009). | RABV infections occur mainly in remote, rural communities where measures such as vaccinating dogs to prevent animal to human transmission have not occurred. Due to lack of resources and preventative measures, 95% of rabies related human deaths occur in Africa and Asia. Most at risk populations generally do not have the ability to access nor the money for the rabies vaccine or post-exposure prophylaxis, turning a rabies infection into a death sentence (WHO fact sheet 99). Most patients only survive for seven days after the onset of symptoms (Schnell et al 2009). | ||
There are two main phylogroups of RABV which cause two distinct types of symptoms. Classical rabies, also known as furious rabies, causes 70% of animal and human infections while non-classical or paralytic rabies causes the remaining 30% of cases. Classical rabies is the more well-known strain and is characterized by symptoms such as hydrophobia, hallucinations, excited behavior, hyperactivity, and occasionally aerophobia. Paralytic rabies is less dramatic, as the patient’s muscles slowly become paralyzed with the paralysis radiating from the infection site. The patient eventually falls into a coma and dies. This non-classical form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, leading to an underrepresentation of the incidences of rabies (WHO and Schnell et al 2009). Both forms of rabies cause death through cardiorespiratory arrest (WHO). | There are two main phylogroups of RABV which cause two distinct types of symptoms. Classical rabies, also known as furious rabies, causes 70% of animal and human infections while non-classical or paralytic rabies causes the remaining 30% of cases. Classical rabies is the more well-known strain and is characterized by symptoms such as hydrophobia, hallucinations, excited behavior, hyperactivity, and occasionally aerophobia. Paralytic rabies is less dramatic, as the patient’s muscles slowly become paralyzed with the paralysis radiating from the infection site. The patient eventually falls into a coma and dies. This non-classical form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, leading to an underrepresentation of the incidences of rabies (WHO and Schnell et al 2009). Both forms of rabies cause death through cardiorespiratory arrest (WHO fact sheet 99). | ||
Great progress has been made in developing new rabies vaccines and preventative measures, but much of the molecular mechanisms of rabies virus remain a mystery. Improved genetic manipulation techniques that allow for direct manipulation of the rabies viral genome have given researchers a more detailed picture of rabies pathogenesis and a greater insight into virus-host cell interactions (Schnell et al 2009). Understanding viral-host cell interactions are key to understanding how rabies virus is able to evade the host’s immune response and make its way from the site of infection to the central nervous system and the brain. A better understanding of these mechanisms could help improve neuronal labeling and nuerotracer studies and treatments for other central nervous system diseases (Schnell et al 2009). | Great progress has been made in developing new rabies vaccines and preventative measures, but much of the molecular mechanisms of rabies virus remain a mystery. Improved genetic manipulation techniques that allow for direct manipulation of the rabies viral genome have given researchers a more detailed picture of rabies pathogenesis and a greater insight into virus-host cell interactions (Schnell et al 2009). Understanding viral-host cell interactions are key to understanding how rabies virus is able to evade the host’s immune response and make its way from the site of infection to the central nervous system and the brain. A better understanding of these mechanisms could help improve neuronal labeling and nuerotracer studies and treatments for other central nervous system diseases (Schnell et al 2009). | ||
Revision as of 19:18, 9 November 2014
Rabies Virus
Rabies virus (RABV) is a prototypical neurotropic virus and is often counted as one of the most deadly zoonotic diseases. Both wild and domestic animals can be afflicted with the disease and it is most commonly spread to humans via the saliva of an infected animal entering a bite wound or scratch. In Asia, most rabies infections are caused by rabid dogs. However in the Americas, and recently Australia and Western Europe, bat rabies has become a public health threat. Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica, but the majority of rabies related deaths occur in Asia and Africa (WHO fact sheet 99).
RABV infections occur mainly in remote, rural communities where measures such as vaccinating dogs to prevent animal to human transmission have not occurred. Due to lack of resources and preventative measures, 95% of rabies related human deaths occur in Africa and Asia. Most at risk populations generally do not have the ability to access nor the money for the rabies vaccine or post-exposure prophylaxis, turning a rabies infection into a death sentence (WHO fact sheet 99). Most patients only survive for seven days after the onset of symptoms (Schnell et al 2009).
There are two main phylogroups of RABV which cause two distinct types of symptoms. Classical rabies, also known as furious rabies, causes 70% of animal and human infections while non-classical or paralytic rabies causes the remaining 30% of cases. Classical rabies is the more well-known strain and is characterized by symptoms such as hydrophobia, hallucinations, excited behavior, hyperactivity, and occasionally aerophobia. Paralytic rabies is less dramatic, as the patient’s muscles slowly become paralyzed with the paralysis radiating from the infection site. The patient eventually falls into a coma and dies. This non-classical form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, leading to an underrepresentation of the incidences of rabies (WHO and Schnell et al 2009). Both forms of rabies cause death through cardiorespiratory arrest (WHO fact sheet 99).
Great progress has been made in developing new rabies vaccines and preventative measures, but much of the molecular mechanisms of rabies virus remain a mystery. Improved genetic manipulation techniques that allow for direct manipulation of the rabies viral genome have given researchers a more detailed picture of rabies pathogenesis and a greater insight into virus-host cell interactions (Schnell et al 2009). Understanding viral-host cell interactions are key to understanding how rabies virus is able to evade the host’s immune response and make its way from the site of infection to the central nervous system and the brain. A better understanding of these mechanisms could help improve neuronal labeling and nuerotracer studies and treatments for other central nervous system diseases (Schnell et al 2009).
Topic 1
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Topic 2
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Topic 3
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Conclusion
Overall paper length should be 2,000 (Draft 1), 3,000 words (Final), with at least 3 figures.
References
Edited by Alexandra Gonzales, student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 375 Microbiology, 2014, Kenyon College.
