Katherine Farnbach
Mmbio465
Term Paper
Nipah Virus
The Nipah Virus was named for the place in Malaysia where it was first isolated in 1998, and was the inspiration for the fictional virus in the film Contagion. It belongs to the Henipavirus genus of the paramyxovirus family. Nipah viral infection primarily causes severe respiratory symptoms and fatal encephalitis. Since its emergence, there have been over 20 outbreaks identified, with outbreaks occurring nearly annually in the Southeast Asia area. Nipah virus is currently classified as a BSL-4 agent, and thus studies using human testing for vaccines and antiviral therapies first require evidence of efficacy in multiple non-human species, as well as good understanding of the mechanisms for both virus pathogenicity and proposed therapies (World Health Organization).
Type of Genome
Non-segmented (-) ssRNA
Size of Genome
18.2kb containing 6 genes
Enveloped?
Yes
Receptor Molecule
Ephrin B2 and B3
Common Routes of Transmission
Ingestion of food/water contaminated with saliva, feces, or urine of infected human or animal. Inhalation of infected respiratory droplets. (Luby, Gurley & Hossain, 2009)
Arthropod Vector?
No
Natural Reservoir
Fruit bats of the Pteropus genus (World Health Organization)
Populations most at risk for infection/disease
Pig farmers, medical personnel and others who come into contact with infected patients.
Patient Diagnosis
Serology, Histopathology, PCR, Virus isolation, Serum Neutralization Test, ELISA, RT-PCR (World Health Organization, 2008)
Mortality Rate
74.5% (World Health Organization)
World-Wide Distribtion
Primarily south-east Asia: Malaysia, Bangledesh, India, West Bengal, Singapore (World Health Organization)
3. Is this really a new virus? :
Studie...
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..., 2014). The reporter viruses will aid in the screening of antivirals.
Conclusion:
Due to Nipah virus's high mortality rate and ability to be passed from human to human, it is important for effective vaccines and antiviral chemotherapies to be developed. Though researching Nipah Virus can be more difficult due to it's classification as a biosafety level 4 virus, much has been accomplished. Basis for future research in of therapies have been laid. Good candidates for vaccines and antivirals have been discovered, all that needs to be done now is optimization and further safety testing before these therapies can be administered to humans and livestock. Excellent animal models have been discovered for this research to be done on. In time, these therapies will become available and Nipah Virus will hopefully never become more than a small threat to human populations.
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been previously touched by an infected person, will transmit the disease to the healthy person who
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Wear gloves and proper cloths if handling the infected animals to prevent the direct contact.
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