Changes

===Virus Structure===

===Virus Structure===

The BVDV genome comprises a single strand of positive sense RNA which is around 12.3 kilobases in length³. The genome is read in one 3898-codon open reading frame that contains no non-coding sequences. BVDV polyprotein is translated directly from the ORF and is cleaved by viral and cellular proteinases to form mature viral proteins^{3, 4}. At either end of the ORF, 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions exist. These regions are long, allowing them to accomodate fuctions conferred in eukaryotic DNA by the 5’ cap and the 3' poly-A tail, such as controlling the initiation of translation, facilitating the entry of replicases, and contributing to RNA stability⁴. BVDV's RNA genome encodes both structural and non-structural proteins. These include Npro, whose protease action generates the N-terminus of the protein C. C is the capsid protein that packages genomic RNA and assists in the formation of the eventual enveloped virion. Erns, E1 and E2 are all glycoproteins, with Erns possessing RNase activity involved in viral replication and pathogenesis⁵. E1 is membrane-anchored and initiates the translocation of the antigenic protein E2 to the envelope³. P7 has an uncertain function⁶. NS2-3 is the first non-structural protein to be translated. Sequence similarities are shown by NS2-3 to a region that in other Flaviviridae is split into two distinct polypeptides, NS2 and NS3. In BVDV, NS2 and NS3 can be expressed as separate polypeptides: NS3 is found exclusively in cytopathic isolates after 6 hours post-infection, making it an isolate of this biotype³. NS2 is also expressed as a discrete polypeptide in some, but not all, cytopathic isolates. NS2-3, along with the other non-structural proteins, plays an important role in genome replication. A serine protease domain within NS2-3 functions to release NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B⁷. NS4A is cofactor for the serine protease⁷, and NS5B possesses an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity⁸. Knowledge of the role of NS4B is limited.

The BVDV genome comprises a single strand of positive sense RNA which is around 12.3 kilobases in length³. The genome is read in one 3898-codon open reading frame that contains no non-coding sequences. BVDV polyprotein is translated directly from the ORF and is cleaved by viral and cellular proteinases to form mature viral proteins^{3, 4}. At either end of the ORF, 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions exist. These regions are long, allowing them to accomodate fuctions conferred in eukaryotic DNA by the 5’ cap and the 3' poly-A tail, such as controlling the initiation of translation, facilitating the entry of replicases, and contributing to RNA stability⁴. BVDV's RNA genome encodes both structural and non-structural proteins. These include Npro, whose protease action generates the N-terminus of the protein C. C is the capsid protein that packages genomic RNA and assists in the formation of the eventual enveloped virion. Erns, E1 and E2 are all glycoproteins, with Erns possessing RNase activity involved in viral replication and pathogenesis⁵. E1 is membrane-anchored and initiates the translocation of the antigenic protein E2 to the envelope³. P7 has an uncertain function⁶. NS2-3 is the first non-structural protein to be translated. Sequence similarities are shown by NS2-3 to a region that in other Flaviviridae is split into two distinct polypeptides, NS2 and NS3. In BVDV, NS2 and NS3 can be expressed as separate polypeptides: NS3 is found exclusively in cytopathic isolates from 6 hours post-infection, making it a marker of this biotype³. NS2 is also expressed as a discrete polypeptide in some cytopathic isolates. NS2-3, along with the other non-structural proteins, plays an important role in genome replication. A serine protease domain within NS2-3 functions to release NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B⁷. NS4A is a cofactor for the serine protease⁷, and NS5B possesses an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity⁸. Knowledge of the role of NS4B is limited.

Newly formed genomic material is packaged by structural proteins to create the BVDV virion which is 40-60nm in diameter. The capsid is surrounged by a membrous envelope, in which the glycoproteins ''E1'' and ''E2'' are anchored. Naked BVDV RNA is infectious^{3, 4}, and so it can be deduced that the virions do not contain enzymes necessary for RNA replication: these are provided by the host cell.

Newly formed genomic material is packaged by structural proteins to create the BVDV virion which is 40-60nm in diameter. The capsid is surrounged by a membrous envelope, in which the glycoproteins ''E1'' and ''E2'' are anchored. Naked BVDV RNA is infectious^{3, 4}, and so it can be deduced that the virions do not contain enzymes necessary for RNA replication: these are provided by the host cell.