Group Group I (dsDNA) Family Herpesviridae Rank Genus | Order Herpesvirales Subfamily Betaherpesvirinae | |
Similar Lymphocryptovirus, Varicellovirus, Herpesvirales, Alphaherpesvirinae, Suipoxvirus | ||
Muromegalovirus is a genus of viruses in the order Herpesvirales, in the family Herpesviridae, in the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae. Rodents that belong to the betaherpesvirinae subfamily of herpesviruses serve as natural hosts. There are currently three species in this genus including the type species Murid herpesvirus 1. Diseases associated with this genus include: infected peritoneal macrophages, dendritic cells (DC) and hepatocytes, inducing significant pathology in both the spleen and the liver. Murid viruses murid herpesvirus 1 (MuHV-1) and murid herpesvirus 2 (MuHV-2)--previously defined as mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV)--belong to this genus.
Contents
Taxonomy
Group: dsDNA
Structure
Viruses in Muromegalovirus 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 230kb in length.
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. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear egress, and budding. Rodents serve as the natural host.