Rhadinovirus
Rhadinovirus is a genus of viruses in the order Herpesvirales, in the family Herpesviridae, in the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. Humans and other mammals serve as natural hosts. Diseases associated with this genus include: Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease, caused by Human herpesvirus 8, also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. The term rhadino comes from the Latin fragile, referring to the tendency of the viral genome to break apart when it is isolated.
Species
The genus consists of the following 12 species:
- Rhadinovirus atelinegamma2, also called Ateline gammaherpesvirus 2
- Rhadinovirus atelinegamma3, also called Ateline gammaherpesvirus 3
- Rhadinovirus bovinegamma4, also called Bovine gammaherpesvirus 4
- Rhadinovirus colobinegamma1
- Rhadinovirus cricetidgamma2, also called Cricetid gammaherpesvirus 2
- Rhadinovirus humangamma8, commonly called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Human herpesvirus 8
- Rhadinovirus macacinegamma5, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 5
- Rhadinovirus macacinegamma8, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 8
- Rhadinovirus macacinegamma11, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 11
- Rhadinovirus macacinegamma12, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 12
- Rhadinovirus muridgamma4, also called Murid gammaherpesvirus 4
- Rhadinovirus muridgamma7, also called Murid gammaherpesvirus 7
- Rhadinovirus saimiriinegamma2, also called Saimiriine gammaherpesvirus 2
Structure
Viruses in Rhadinovirus are enveloped, with icosahedral, spherical to pleomorphic, and round geometries, and T=16 symmetry. The diameter is around 150-200 nm. Genomes are linear and non-segmented, around 180kb in length.
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation |
| Rhadinovirus | Spherical pleomorphic | T=16 | Enveloped | Linear | Monopartite |
Life cycle
Viral replication is nuclear, and is lysogenic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral glycoproteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. Replication follows the dsDNA bidirectional replication model. DNA-templated transcription, with some alternative splicing mechanism is the method of transcription. Translation takes place by leaky scanning. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear egress, and budding. Humans and other mammals serve as natural hosts. Transmission routes are sexual, contact, and through saliva.
| Genus | Host details | Tissue tropism | Entry details | Release details | Replication site | Assembly site | Transmission |
| Rhadinovirus | Humans; mammals | B-lymphocytes | Glycoproteins | Budding | Nucleus | Nucleus | Sex; saliva |