Nipah and Hendra Viruses: Deadly Zoonotic Paramyxoviruses with the Potential to Cause the Next Pandemic

Abstract

Nipah and Hendra viruses are deadly zoonotic paramyxoviruses with a case fatality rate of upto 75%. The viruses belong to the genus henipavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae, a family of negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. The natural reservoirs of NiV and HeV are bats (flying foxes) in which the virus infection is asymptomatic. The intermediate hosts for NiV and HeV are swine and equine, respectively. In humans, NiV infections result in severe and often fatal respiratory and neurological manifestations. The Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia and Singapore following an outbreak of encephalitis in pig farmers and subsequent outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh and India almost every year. Due to its extreme pathogenicity, pandemic potential, and lack of established antiviral therapeutics and vaccines, research on henipaviruses is highly warranted so as to develop antivirals or vaccines that could aid in the prevention and control of future outbreaks.

Establishment of a novel minigenome system for the identification of drugs targeting Nipah virus replication

“…To further confirm the replication and transcription of replicons in BHK-Rep cells, we detected three forms of replicon RNAs [vRNA, cRNA (complementary to vRNA; genome replication intermediate) and minigenome mRNA] [1] using RT-qPCR. First-strand cDNAs were generated by RT using a set of tagged strand-specific primers to quantify NiV vRNA, cRNA and mRNA.…”

“…The vRNA, of approximately 18.2 kb in length, encodes nine viral proteins: nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), and three non-structural proteins named C, V and W encoded by the P gene, matrix protein (M), attachment proteins termed G (for glycoprotein), fusion protein (F) and large protein (L). P and L form an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which binds to viral ribonucleoproteins comprising N proteins and vRNAs, initiating vRNA replication or transcription [1]. Components of the replication complex, specifically P, N, L and vRNA, represent the minimal elements required for viral replication [1] and need to be provided in trans to rescue the minigenome [5,11].…”

“…P and L form an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which binds to viral ribonucleoproteins comprising N proteins and vRNAs, initiating vRNA replication or transcription [1]. Components of the replication complex, specifically P, N, L and vRNA, represent the minimal elements required for viral replication [1] and need to be provided in trans to rescue the minigenome [5,11].…”

“…Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus that causes fatal respiratory and neurological manifestations in humans [1]. With a mortality rate of up to 75%, NiV is classified as a Biosafety 4 pathogen [1].…”

Is the emergence of the zoonotic Langya virus amidst COVID-19 and monkeypox a cause for concern?

“…LayV, named after the town Langya in Shandong Province, is a phylogenetically distinct zoonotic Henipavirus [ 2 ]. The Henipaviruses , such as Nipah and Hendra, are enveloped, negative-strand RNA viruses belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family [ 3 ]. The Hendra virus was responsible for seven cases, primarily in veterinarians dealing with sick horses in Australia [ 4 ].…”