Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses
Hantaviruses, part of the Bunyaviridae family, are a genus of negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause two major diseases: New-World Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome and Old-World Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Hantaviruses generally are found worldwide with each disease cor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00925/full |
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| author | Michael Hilary D’Souza Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel |
| author_facet | Michael Hilary D’Souza Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel |
| author_sort | Michael Hilary D’Souza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hantaviruses, part of the Bunyaviridae family, are a genus of negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause two major diseases: New-World Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome and Old-World Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Hantaviruses generally are found worldwide with each disease corresponding to their respective hemispheres. New-World Hantaviruses spread by specific rodent-host reservoirs and are categorized as emerging viruses that pose a threat to global health and security due to their high mortality rate and ease of transmission. Incidentally, reports of Hantavirus categorization as a bioweapon are often contradicted as both US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to them as Category A and C bioagents respectively, each retaining qualitative levels of importance and severity. Concerns of Hantavirus being engineered into a novel bioagent has been thwarted by Hantaviruses being difficult to culture, isolate, and purify limiting its ability to be weaponized. However, the natural properties of Hantaviruses pose a threat that can be exploited by conventional and unconventional forces. This review seeks to clarify the categorization of Hantaviruses as a bioweapon, whilst defining the practicality of employing New-World Hantaviruses and their effect on armies, infrastructure, and civilian targets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:23:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59ddd418c0454c689666e0566c1000dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:23:22Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-59ddd418c0454c689666e0566c1000dd2022-12-22T00:17:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852020-08-01810.3389/fbioe.2020.00925565602Biodefense Implications of New-World HantavirusesMichael Hilary D’Souza0Trushar R. Patel1Trushar R. Patel2Trushar R. Patel3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, CanadaDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaLi Ka Shing Institute of Virology and Discovery Lab, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaHantaviruses, part of the Bunyaviridae family, are a genus of negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause two major diseases: New-World Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome and Old-World Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Hantaviruses generally are found worldwide with each disease corresponding to their respective hemispheres. New-World Hantaviruses spread by specific rodent-host reservoirs and are categorized as emerging viruses that pose a threat to global health and security due to their high mortality rate and ease of transmission. Incidentally, reports of Hantavirus categorization as a bioweapon are often contradicted as both US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to them as Category A and C bioagents respectively, each retaining qualitative levels of importance and severity. Concerns of Hantavirus being engineered into a novel bioagent has been thwarted by Hantaviruses being difficult to culture, isolate, and purify limiting its ability to be weaponized. However, the natural properties of Hantaviruses pose a threat that can be exploited by conventional and unconventional forces. This review seeks to clarify the categorization of Hantaviruses as a bioweapon, whilst defining the practicality of employing New-World Hantaviruses and their effect on armies, infrastructure, and civilian targets.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00925/fullhantavirusSin Nombre VirusAndes Virusbiodefensebioterrorismviral pandemic |
| spellingShingle | Michael Hilary D’Souza Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel Trushar R. Patel Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology hantavirus Sin Nombre Virus Andes Virus biodefense bioterrorism viral pandemic |
| title | Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses |
| title_full | Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses |
| title_fullStr | Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses |
| title_short | Biodefense Implications of New-World Hantaviruses |
| title_sort | biodefense implications of new world hantaviruses |
| topic | hantavirus Sin Nombre Virus Andes Virus biodefense bioterrorism viral pandemic |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00925/full |
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