Sinnott John T, Kim Kami, Somboonwit Charurut, Cosnett Conor, Segal David, Shapshak Paul
Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33606. USA.
Wolfram Research Inc., Champaigne, Illinois 61820 USA.
Bioinformation. 2023 Aug 31;19(8):829-832. doi: 10.6026/97320630019829. eCollection 2023.
Filoviruses, categorized as World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Group 4 (RG-4) pathogens, represent significant global health risks due to their extraordinary virulence. The Filoviridae family encompasses Ebola strains such as Sudan, Zaire, Bundibugyo, Tai Forest (formerly known as Ivory Coast), Reston, and Bombali, in addition to the closely related Marburg and Ravn virus strains. Filoviruses originated from a common ancestor about 10,000 years ago and displayed remarkable consistency in genetic heterogeneity until the 20th century. However, they overcame a genetic bottleneck by mid-century. Paradoxically, this resulted in the emergence of boosted virulent strains from the 1970's onward. Filovirus research is included in the NIAID Biodefense Program and utilizes the highest level specialized protective laboratories, Biosafety Laboratory (BSL)-4. The spread of Filoviruses as well as other RG-4 pathogens within Africa poses a significant health threat increasingly both in Africa and out of Africa.
丝状病毒被世界卫生组织（WHO）列为风险等级4（RG-4）病原体，因其极强的毒性而对全球健康构成重大风险。丝状病毒科除了包括密切相关的马尔堡病毒和拉夫恩病毒株外，还包括埃博拉病毒株，如苏丹型、扎伊尔型、本迪布焦型、塔伊森林型（原象牙海岸型）、雷斯顿型和邦巴利型。丝状病毒起源于约1万年前的一个共同祖先，在20世纪之前，其基因异质性表现出显著的一致性。然而，到本世纪中叶，它们突破了一个基因瓶颈。矛盾的是，这导致了从20世纪70年代起毒性更强的毒株出现。丝状病毒研究被纳入美国国立过敏和传染病研究所（NIAID）的生物防御计划，并使用最高级别的专业防护实验室，即生物安全4级实验室（BSL-4）。丝状病毒以及其他RG-4病原体在非洲境内外的传播对非洲乃至非洲以外地区的健康都构成了日益严重的威胁。
