# Rhadinovirus

Rhadinovirus (synonyms: Rhadinoviridae and gamma-2 herpesviruses) is a genus of viruses in the order Herpesvirales, in the family Herpesviridae, in the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. Humans and other mammals serve as natural hosts. Diseases associated with this genus include: Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease, caused by Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). The term rhadino comes from the Latin fragile, referring to the tendency of the viral genome to break apart when it is isolated.

## Species

The genus consists of the following 12 species:
* Rhadinovirus atelinegamma2, also called Ateline gammaherpesvirus 2
* Rhadinovirus atelinegamma3, also called Ateline gammaherpesvirus 3
* Rhadinovirus bovinegamma4, also called Bovine gammaherpesvirus 4
* Rhadinovirus colobinegamma1
* Rhadinovirus cricetidgamma2, also called Cricetid gammaherpesvirus 2
* Rhadinovirus humangamma8, commonly called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)
* Rhadinovirus macacinegamma5, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 5
* Rhadinovirus macacinegamma8, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 8
* Rhadinovirus macacinegamma11, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 11
* Rhadinovirus macacinegamma12, also called Macacine gammaherpesvirus 12
* Rhadinovirus muridgamma4, also called Murid gammaherpesvirus 4
* Rhadinovirus muridgamma7, also called Murid gammaherpesvirus 7
* Rhadinovirus saimiriinegamma2, also called Saimiriine gammaherpesvirus 2

## Hosts

In general, rhadinoviruses infect lymphocytes and adherent cells, such as fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells and once infection occurs, it is, in general, lifelong. Rhadinoviruses infect a wide range of mammals, include humans. Rhadinoviruses have been found in New World monkeys such as the squirrel monkeys (herpesvirus saimiri) and in mice (Murid gammaherpesvirus 68). More recently, both KSHV-like viruses and a new form of rhadinovirus called rhesus rhadinovirus have been discovered in Old World monkeys. These findings suggest that an additional human tumor virus related to KSHV may be found in humans.

## Structure

Viruses in Rhadinovirus are enveloped, with icosahedral, spherical to pleomorphic, and round geometries, and T=16 symmetry. The diameter is around 150-200 nm. Genomes are linear and non-segmented, around 180kb in length. They are large double-stranded viruses that possess up to 100 genes in a single long chromosome, which is flanked by repetitive DNA sequences called terminal repeats.
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation |
| Rhadinovirus | Spherical pleomorphic | T=16 | Enveloped | Linear | Monopartite |

## Life cycle

Viral replication is nuclear, and is lysogenic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral glycoproteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. Replication follows the dsDNA bidirectional replication model. DNA-templated transcription, with some alternative splicing mechanism is the method of transcription. Translation takes place by leaky scanning. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear egress, and budding. Humans and other mammals serve as natural hosts. Transmission routes are sexual, contact, and through saliva.
| Genus | Host details | Tissue tropism | Entry details | Release details | Replication site | Assembly site | Transmission |
| Rhadinovirus | Humans; mammals | B-lymphocytes | Glycoproteins | Budding | Nucleus | Nucleus | Sex; saliva |