Recent Advances in the Molecular Biology of West Nile Virus

Author: Beasley, David W.C.

Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Volume 5, Number 8, December 2005 , pp. 835-850(16)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Since the mid-1990s, West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged as a significant agent of arboviral encephalitis in several regions of the world. In 1999, WNV was introduced into the northeastern United States and was associated with an outbreak of encephalitis affecting humans, birds and horses. Subsequently, the virus has spread across the country, and across southern Canada, and in 2002 and 2003 was associated with the largest outbreaks of arboviral encephalitis recorded in the Western hemisphere. Interestingly, the more recent spread of WNV into Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean has not been associated with the high levels of clinical disease observed in North America. This review addresses the most recent results from studies investigating the molecular biology and evolution of WNV, as well as progress in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic reagents.

Keywords: glycosaminoglycans (GAGs); viral envelope (E) protein; endoplasmic reticulum; immature virions; flaviviruses; nucleic acid amplification testing

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652405774962272

Affiliations: 1: University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.

Publication date: 2005-12-01

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Current Molecular Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal focused on providing the readership with current and comprehensive reviews on fundamental molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, the development of molecular-diagnosis and/or novel approaches to rational treatment. The reviews should be of significant interest to basic researchers and clinical investigators in molecular medicine. Periodically the journal will invite guest editors to devote an issue on a basic research area that shows promise to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of a disease or has potential for clinical applications.