The Big Picture Book of Viruses: Paramyxoviridae


Taxonomy: Taxonomic structure of the family. Species: Paramyxovirinae; Pneumovirinae. In addition to three recognised viruses, namely Fer-de-Lance virus of reptiles (FDLV), the chiropteran Mapuera virus (MPRV), and the rodent Nariva virus (NARV), several viruses from penguins are known which are distinct from avian paramyxoviruses 1-9.

Host: Virus infects vertebrates.

Genome: RNA. Single stranded. Linear; genomic nucleic acid mostly negative sense, or positive sense (template strands occur). Genome monopartite. Total genome 15200-15900 nucleotides long.

Morphology: Virions enveloped; pleomorphic and filamentous forms occur (frequently); spherical, or filamentous; (60-)150-200(-300) nm in diameter; 1000-10000 nm long. Surface projections of envelope distinct; spikes (of haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) glycoproteins 8-20 nm long, spaced 6-10 nm apart). Capsids filamentous; nucleocapsids 600-800(-1000) nm long; nucleocapsids 13-18 nm in diameter. Symmetry helical. Pitch of helix 5.5-7 nm.

(Note: for more information about the taxonomy and structure of this virus, see the ICTV database below.)

More Information:
Taxonomy: ICTV Data
WWW Sites: ATV Sites!
Tutorials: Available

Paramyxoviridae Images:
Genus EM Images Example Virus Name Description of Image
Sub-Family Paramyxovirinae
Paramyxovirus
N/A
 human parainfluenza virus 1
vsd22a
 animal paramyxovirus From Stewart McNulty at Veterinary Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast.
para-4a
 human paramyxovirus virus From Linda Stannard's Virus Ultrastructure, at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town.
para-3
 human paramyxovirus From Linda Stannard's Virus Ultrastructure, at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town.
rnprot3
 human paramyxovirus helical ribonucleo-protein capsid From Linda Stannard's Virus Ultrastructure, at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town.
rnprotn
 human paramyxovirus helical ribonucleo-protein capsid (inset from image above) From Linda Stannard's Virus Ultrastructure, at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town.
fluEM
 paramyxovirus
sphereflu
 paramyxovirus
Morbillivirus
N/A
 Measles virus
Rinderpest virus from Rajnish Kaushik, at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
Rinderpest virus from Rajnish Kaushik, at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
Peste Des Petit Ruminant Virus from Rajnish Kaushik, at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
U1D101
 Rinderpest virus
U2D201
 Rinderpest virus
U5D501
 Rinderpest virus
Rubulavirus
N/A
 Mumps virus
Sub-Family Pneumovirinae
Pneumovirus
N/A
 Human respiratory syncytial virus
vsd13a
 an animal Pneumovirus From Stewart McNulty at Veterinary Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast.
a Pneumovirus cartoon From the Pneumovirus Laboratory Homepage, University of Warwick, Dept. of Biological Sciences, U.K.
a Pneumovirus cartoon From the Pneumovirus Laboratory Homepage, University of Warwick, Dept. of Biological Sciences, U.K.

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