Lubombo virus (LUBV) is an orbivirus that infects vertebrates and culicine mosquitoes, thought to be its arthropod vector. It is classified in the genus ''Orbivirus'' and the family '' Reoviridae''. It is studied at biosafety level 2.

Virion

The Lubombo virus virion is a non-enveloped double layer capsid with a diameter of approximately 80 nm for the outer capsid and 60 nm for the inner capsid. The genome it contains is 19200 base pairs long, composed of linear double-stranded RNA in 10 segments. Each virion contains only one genome segment. The genome codes for 11 proteins total.

Replication

Vero cell Vero cells are a lineage of cells used in cell cultures. The 'Vero' lineage was isolated from kidney epithelial cells extracted from an African green monkey (''Chlorocebus'' sp.; formerly called ''Cercopithecus aethiops'', this group of monkeys ha ...

s and LLC-MK2 cells, Lebombo virus causes

lysis Lysis ( ) is the breaking down of the membrane of a cell, often by viral, enzymic, or osmotic (that is, "lytic" ) mechanisms that compromise its integrity. A fluid containing the contents of lysed cells is called a ''lysate''. In molecular bio ...

; however, it does not cause any cytopathic effect in C6/36 cells. It causes disease in mice.

Transmission

LEBV is thought to be transmitted by mosquitoes in the genus '' Culicoides''. However, it may be transmitted transiently via

blood meal Blood meal is a dry, inert powder made from blood, used as a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer and a high protein animal feed. N = 13.25%, P = 1.0%, K = 0.6%. It is one of the highest non-synthetic sources of nitrogen. It usually comes from cattle ...

s, rather than actual infection of the mosquito.

Human disease

One case of Lubombo virus in humans has been reported, in Ibadan, Nigeria. It caused a febrile illness in a child. People with

antibodies An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...

to Lebombo virus have been found in South Africa and Nigeria. There is one

serotype A serotype or serovar is a distinct variation within a species of bacteria or virus or among immune cells of different individuals. These microorganisms, viruses, or cells are classified together based on their surface antigens, allowing the epi ...

of LEBV (LEBV-1).

History

Originally isolated in 1956 in Johannesburg, it was first discovered in ''

Aedes circumluteolus ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'', a species of mosquito. Since, it has been isolated in '' Mansonia africa''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18976051 Orbiviruses