Alphaviruses

Alphaviruses are small spherical positive sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause a number of human and animal diseases. Transmitted primarily through mosquitoes, alphaviruses can cause arthritic diseases and encephalitis in both humans and animals. Alphavirus members include chikungunya, Western equine encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis and Mayaro virus. Alphavirus E1 and E2 proteins control viral entry into host cells.