Naksoviruses

Naksoviruses are a genus of negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses in the order Mononegavirales and the family Rhabdoviridae. They are characterized by their bullet-shaped virions, which typically measure around 150-200 nanometers in length and 50-100 nanometers in diameter. The genome of a naksovirus consists of a single molecule of RNA which is not segmented. The genetic material encodes for several proteins essential for viral replication, including a nucleoprotein, a phosphoprotein, a matrix protein, a glycoprotein, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Naksoviruses primarily infect insects, with a particular focus on mosquitoes. They are often transmitted horizontally through various mechanisms, including direct contact, ingestion, or cohabitation. The viruses replicate within the cytoplasm of infected insect cells. While naksoviruses have been detected in various insect populations worldwide, their full ecological impact and the extent of their host range are still areas of ongoing research. Due to their insect hosts, some naksoviruses may have potential implications in vector-borne disease transmission, although no direct human pathogenicity has been definitively established for this genus. Research into naksoviruses contributes to our understanding of viral diversity within the Rhabdoviridae family and insect virology.