rologie i - European Congress of Virology

5 th European Congress of VirologySaturday 14 th September 2013, 11h00 – 13h00PLENARY SESSION 4: “THE UNIVERSE OF VIRUSES”Chairpersons:Marion KOOPMANS (Bilthoven, THE NETHERLAND)& Geoffrey SMITH (London, UNITED KINGDOM)Amphitheater11:00 – 11:30Order to the Viral UniverseDennis BAMFORDInstitute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, Viikinkaari5, Helsinki 00014, FINLANDThe virosphere is enormous as well as the viral genomic diversity.However, the virion, the hallmark of a virus, can be constructed onlyusing the available protein folds. The number of unique protein folds isvery limited (current estimates being less than 1500) and only a smallsubset of these has properties suitable to assemble the virion. This wouldmean that the virion structure space is very limited and may even bedefined. We have set out to test this hypothesis by comparing virionand virus coat protein structures and globally isolating new viruses andcategorizing them to currently known virion morphotypes. It appears thatonly very seldom novel virion architectures are discovered supportingthe hypothesis put forward. It will be discussed how these observationsaffect the higher order classification of viruses.11:30 – 12:00Viral reservoirs and the promise of pandemic preparednessChristian DROSTENInstitute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, GERMANYTen years after the SARS epidemic, zoonotic and emerging viruses havebecome a growing field of research. Some remarkable novel virus descriptionsin animals have demonstrated how ignorant we are of the diversityof viruses around us. In our efforts to delineate viral origins we may haveto re-asess our concept of reservoir. In many instances, we are mixing upecological and epidemiological implications of viral evolution. Among thebiggest challenges in this field is the integration of the concepts of virushostcodivergence, and host switching (as well as the challenge to infer thelatter from phylogenies). In addition, assessments of viral reservoirs withthe intention to predict future pandemic threats would have to take intoaccount important host and virus traits which cannot be predicted merelyfrom virus genes. For example, we need to know whether there are hostswhich have a higher protensity to carry broader spectra or higher concentrationsof viruses, potentially without being affected. Among the virusesborne in such reservoirs, there may be some that are more promiscuous intheir choice of hosts, potentially due to the conservedness of their receptorstructures or the way they interfere with conserved- or not-so-conservedimmune properties. A synopsis of available approaches demonstrates howmuch work needs to be done before we will be able to assess functional,rather than genetic diversity of reservoir-borne viruses. However, there isno reason for pessimism as on our way there, we will come across surprisingand promising new insights which, for instance, may teach us how tobetter model viral diseases in the laboratory.12:00 – 12:30Emerging bunyavirusesRichard ELLIOTTMRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection,Immunity and Inflammation, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UNITEDKINGDOMThe family Bunyaviridae currently contains more than 350 named virusisolates characterised by possession of a tri-partite, single stranded RNAgenome that encodes proteins using a negative- or ambi-sense strategy.Viruses replicate in the cytoplasm and assemble at the Golgi. The familyis divided into 5 genera, Orthobunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirusand Tospovirus. Tospoviruses infect plants and are transmitted byvarious species of thrips. Hantaviruses are maintained in nature as persistentinfections of rodents and are transmitted to humans in aerosolisedrodent excretions. Orthobunyaviruses, nairoviruses and phleboviruses areall arboviruses and are transmitted by mosquitoes, sandflies, midges, ticksand other blood-feeding arthropods. They cause a range of disease syndromesin man ranging from self-limiting fevers, through encephalitis andhepatitis, to fatal haemorrhagic fever, and include pathogens such as LaCrosse, Oropouche, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Rift Valleyfever viruses. Bunyaviruses provide many examples of emerging viruses,in part due to climate change, though many other factors are involved.Recent examples include the human pathogen SFTSV in China, Japanand Korea, and the animal pathogen Schmallenberg virus that has spreadrapidly throughout Europe. Current knowledge on the molecular biologyof these viruses will be discussed.12:30 – 13:00Emerging respiratory virusesRon FOUCHIERDepartment of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus MedicalCenter, Rotterdam, THE NETHERLANDSBackground: Since the start of the avian influenza A(H5N1) epizooticsin Southeast Asia in 1997 and the outbreak of SARS in 2003, numerousprograms to improve preparedness for emerging infectious diseaseswere initiated. In this context, we discovered a novel coronavirus associatedwith acute respiratory disease and renal failure with a fatal outcome(N Engl J Med. 2012 367:1814-20) in the summer of 2012, after whichnew detections have been reported continuously. In addition, Chinesehealth authorities reported the detection of human cases of avian influenzaA(H7N9) virus infection since the end of March 2013 (N Engl J Med.2013 368:1888-97). These two newly emerging respiratory viruses are ofconcern to public health.Objective: I will review the current situation with respect to the novelcoronavirus emerging in the Middle East and avian A(H7N9) influenzavirus emerging in China. As of June 21, 2013, the novel coronavirus wasreported in 64 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection, including 38 fatalities.Also as of June 21, a total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases ofhuman infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus including 37 deathshave been reported to the WHO. So far, there is no evidence for sustainedhuman-to-human transmission for both virusesConclusion: These discoveries and the current period of low levels ofvirus circulation in (probably) animal hosts, provides an opportunity tointervene and prevent more widespread outbreaks or pandemics. However,this will require strong commitments from the countries where the casesso far have occurred. The current state of scientific investigation will bediscussedS104 Virologie, Vol 17, supplément 2, septembre 2013