Mengla virus

Mengla virus (MLAV) is a filovirus discovered in 2019 in Mengla County, Yunnan Province, China. It is named after the location of its discovery. The virus was found in fruit bats, specifically the species Rousettus, which are known to be natural reservoirs for many viruses.

Discovery

The Mengla virus was discovered by a team of researchers from the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The team was conducting a study on the risk of spillover infection from bats to humans. The discovery of the Mengla virus highlighted the diversity of filoviruses and their potential for cross-species transmission.

Characteristics

Mengla virus is a filovirus, a family of viruses that also includes the deadly Ebola virus and Marburg virus. Like other filoviruses, Mengla virus has a filamentous structure. The virus's genome was found to be 19,192 bases in length, which is within the range of other filoviruses.

The Mengla virus shares many characteristics with other filoviruses, including its structure and its ability to infect both human and bat cells. However, it also has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other filoviruses. For example, the Mengla virus's glycoprotein, which is responsible for the virus's ability to infect host cells, is distinct from those of other filoviruses.

Potential for Human Infection

While the Mengla virus has not been found in humans, its ability to infect human cells in the lab suggests that it could potentially infect humans in the future. The virus's ability to infect both bat and human cells suggests that it could potentially be transmitted from bats to humans, a process known as zoonotic transmission.

Prevention and Control

As of now, there are no specific treatments or vaccines for the Mengla virus. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid contact with fruit bats, especially in areas where the virus has been found.

See Also

• Filovirus
• Ebola virus
• Marburg virus
• Zoonotic transmission