Betaherpesvirinae is a subfamily of viruses in the order Herpesvirales and in the family Herpesviridae. Mammals serve as natural hosts. There are 26 species in this subfamily, divided among 5 genera. Diseases associated with this subfamily include: human cytomegalovirus (HHV-5): congenital CMV infection; HHV-6: 'sixth disease' (also known as roseola infantum or exanthem subitum); HHV-7: symptoms analogous to the 'sixth disease'.[1][2]
Genera
Betaherpesvirinae consists of the following five genera:[2]
Viruses in Betaherpesvirinae 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 140-240kb in length.[1]
Genus
Structure
Symmetry
Capsid
Genomic arrangement
Genomic segmentation
Roseolovirus
Spherical pleomorphic
T=16
Enveloped
Linear
Monopartite
Cytomegalovirus
Spherical pleomorphic
T=16
Enveloped
Linear
Monopartite
Proboscivirus
Spherical pleomorphic
T=16
Enveloped
Linear
Monopartite
Muromegalovirus
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.
Betaherpesviruses typically have highly restricted host ranges, although essentially all mammals, reptiles, and birds are infected with at least one betaherpesvirus species. Transmission routes are transplacental, transplantation, blood transfusion, body fluids, urine, and saliva.[1]
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, HHV-5) "seems to have a large impact on immune parameters in later life and may contribute to increased morbidity and eventual mortality."[5] Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) has been described as more neurovirulent,[6] and as such is more frequently found in patients with neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis.[7] Both human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), as well as other viruses, can cause a skin condition in infants known as exanthema subitum, roseola infantum (rose rash of infants) or the sixth disease.
^De Bolle, L.; Van Loon, J.; De Clercq, E.; Naesens, Lieve (2005). "Quantitative analysis of human herpesvirus 6 cell tropism". Journal of Medical Virology. 75 (1): 76–85. doi:10.1002/jmv.20240. PMID15543581. S2CID31720143.
^Álvarez-Lafuente, Roberto; García-Montojo, Marta; De Las Heras, Virginia; Bartolomé, Manuel; Arroyo, Rafael (2006). "Clinical parameters and HHV-6 active replication in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis patients". Journal of Clinical Virology. 37: S24–6. doi:10.1016/S1386-6532(06)70007-5. PMID17276363.