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Volume 4, Issue 5(Suppl) J Infect Dis Ther
ISSN: 2332-0877 JIDT, an open access journal Euro Infectious Diseases 2016
September 05-06, 2016
Page 10
Notes:
conferenceseries.com
Infectious Diseases
September 05-06, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany
3rd Euro-Global Conference on
Bunyaviruses and other emerging zoonotic RNA viruses
There is an expanding group of identified emerging zoonotic RNA viruses whose prevalence and sensitivity to anthropogenic
disruption epitomize the ongoing “third epidemiological transition” in human history, which is marked by emergence of
novel pathogens and re-emergence of previously identified infectious microbes. Examples of recent and ongoing outbreaks
initiated by these RNA viruses include hemorrhagic fever following infection by the filovirus, Ebola and fetal neuromal
formation arising from infection by the Flavivirus, Zika. The bunyaviruses comprise the largest group of RNA viruses and
include multiple emerging zoonotic species that are pathogenic in humans. This family of viruses has a genome composed of
three minus strand RNA segments. Using Sin Nombre Hantavirus and Rift Valley fever virus as models, we have been elucidating
multiple facets of bunyavirus biology including fundamental strategies of the virus for genome expression, replication and
packaging and we have been exploring key features of virus-host interaction. The replication of these viruses intersects with
cytoplasmic RNA metabolism pathways physically associated with processing bodies (PBs) and stress granules (SGs). This
association has important implications for mRNA synthesis and genome replication. Specific components of the cytoplasmic
granules are also important for efficient virus replication, playing a direct role in viral RNA function. Generation of a specific
mechanistic picture of how these cellular components function in virus replication will provide insight into the intricacies of
virus replication. These cellular components are also potential targets for broad-spectrum antivirals as these cellular co-factors
appear to be required for the replication of multiple diverse bunyaviruses.
Biography
Nito Panganiban is a Professor and Interim Division Chair of Microbiology at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, Chief Scientific Officer at Peptineo and
a Member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Tulane University School of Medicine. The focus of his academic research lab is centered on
diverse emerging RNA viruses with emphasis on pathogenic, zoonotic RNA viruses including members of the bunya and Flavivirus families including Zika virus, Rift
Valley Fever, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and Hantaviruses.
Nito Panganiban
Tulane University, USA
Nito Panganiban, J Infect Dis Ther 2016, 4:5(Suppl)