Virology

Biography

Biography: Stefan Vilcek

Abstract

The family Flaviviridae, genus Pestivirus is intensively studied by many pestivirologists around world due to significant contribution of these viruses to economical loss and welfare of farm and free-living animals. Several decades ago the genus Pestivirus composed three pestiviruses: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infecting swine, Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infecting cattle and Border disease virus (BDV) affecting sheep and goats. In the middle of 80s, new BVDV type has been discovered, which infected cattle in Canada and USA. To distinguish between classical BVDV and new BVDV type, the old well known BVDV was renamed to BVDV type 1 (BVDV-1) and new Pestivirus to BVDV type 2 (BVDV-2). In addition to classical Pestiviruses further Pestivirus was identified in giraffe which was called giraffe Pestivirus, Introduction of molecular-genetic methods as PCR, rapid sequencing method coupled with computer-assisted phylogenetic analysis and the next generation sequencing (NGS) to virus research led to the discovery of new Pestiviruses which are collectively called as atypical Pestiviruses. The following Pestiviruses were recently discovered belonging to this group: Pronghorn Pestivirus, Bungowannah, a Pestivirus found in swine, Ho_Bi like Pestivirus initially found as a contaminant of cell culture, later in infected cattle. It was long time believed that Pestiviruses infect Artiodactyla hosts only but further atypical Pestiviruses were identified in bat (Rhinolophus affinis) in China, which was called Bat Pestivirus, other Pestivirus in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in New York City Rat Pestivirus. Recently, two new Pestiviruses were identified in swine, which were called atypical porcine Pestivirus (APPV) and Linda virus