Molecular biology of orthobunyaviruses

The Orthobunyavirus genus comprises over 170 named viruses, including the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family, Bunyamwera virus, as well medically significant viruses such as La Crosse and Oropouche viruses, and pathogens of veterinary importance like Akabane and Cache Valley viruses. In this chapter we review the molecular characteristics of orthobunyavirus genomes and encoded proteins, and details of the orthobunyavirus replication cycle. We describe how the development of reverse genetics has paved the way to understand interactions of orthobunyaviruses with the host cell, and in particular the evasion of the host innate immune response. Finally we review the differences in virus replication in vertebrate and invertebrate cells.