New risk assessment of filoviruses

Dianlovirus menglaense The genome of Dianlovirus menglaense (Synonym: Mengla dianlovirus (MLAV) was detected in 2019 in liver samples of asymptomatic rosette fruit bats from the tropical rainforest in China, but MLAV particles have not yet been isolated. The MLAV genome consists of an unsegmented, single-stranded RNA of negative polarity and is very similar in size and organization to the genome of viruses of the genus Marburgvirus. Based on phylogenetic analyses, MLAV is currently the only species of the genus Dianlovirus within the filoviruses. MLAV has a broad Host range that is largely identical to that of other filoviruses. Results from experiments with human HEK293 cells and recombinant virus hybrids suggest that MLAV (just like Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV)) uses the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor for cell entry. Furthermore, it has been shown that generated pseudoviruses can infect primary cells and established cell lines of various mammalian species (bats, fruit bats, humans, monkeys, hamsters, and dogs) in vitro via the MLAV glycoprotein. Similar to MARV and EBOV, MLAV is also able to block the type I interferon response in human cells. Due to the lifestyle and habitats of the Rosette-headed fruit bats It is not unlikely that humans could come into contact with MLAV or have already come into contact with it. Data on the seroprevalence of MLAV in humans or animals are not available. Likewise, there are currently no data on the pathogenicity, distribution, or possible additional hosts of MLAV.

Striavirus antennarii and Thamnovirus thamnaconi The genomes of Striavirus antennarii (Synonym: Xilang striavirus , XILV) and Thamnovirus thamnaconi (synonym: Huangjiao thamnovirus, HUJV) were first detected in fish from the East China Sea in 2011. Their genome consists of unsegmented, single-stranded RNA of negative polarity. The genomes of the Fish filoviruses clearly different from those of mammalian filoviruses (such as EBOV and MARV). XILV is the only classified virus of the genus Striavirus , HUJV the only classified virus of the genus Thamnovirus . Neither XILV nor HUJV particles have been isolated to date. The pathogenic potential, distribution, and host range of the viruses are unknown.

The ZKBS classifies the fish filoviruses Striavirus antennarii and Thamnovirus thamnaconi according to Section 5 Paragraph 1 GenTSV in conjunction with the criteria in Annex 1 GenTSV as donor and recipient organisms for genetic engineering work in the Risk group 2 The mammalian filovirus Dianlovirus menglaense is the Risk group 4 Little is known about XILV and HUJV. However, their genome is fundamentally different from that of Mammalian filoviruses . Since there is no evidence of pathogenic potential, the ZKBS does not base its risk assessment on the hazard potential of human-pathogenic filoviruses. It is also unknown whether MLAV is pathogenic to humans and animals. However, this may be due to in vitro Experiments and the similarity of MLAV to MARV cannot be ruled out. MLAV presumably has a broad host range, including humans.

The complete ZKBS statement can be found at File number 45242.0211 can be retrieved.