# Gamboa virus

Gamboa virus is a mosquito-borne virus that belongs to the Orthobunyavirus genus in the Peribunyaviridae family. It is primarily found in Central and South America, where it infects wild birds without causing significant disease in humans or animals. The virus is transmitted by the mosquito species Aedeomyia squamipennis and is notable for lacking the NSs protein in some strains, a unique feature among orthobunyaviruses.

## Classification

Gamboa virus is classified under the genus Orthobunyavirus, within the Peribunyaviridae family. It belongs to the Gamboa serogroup, distinguishing it from other orthobunyaviruses such as California encephalitis virus.

## Genome

The virus possesses a tripartite, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome, consisting of large (L), medium (M), and small (S) segments. The L segment encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, the M segment encodes two surface glycoproteins (Gn and Gc) and a non-structural protein NSm, and the S segment encodes the nucleoprotein N and, in some strains, the non-structural protein NSs. A distinctive feature of Gamboa virus is that some isolates lack the NSs protein, which is typically present in other orthobunyaviruses and is associated with virulence.

## Transmission

The primary vector of Gamboa virus is the mosquito species Aedeomyia squamipennis, which feeds predominantly on birds. Evidence of vertical transmission (from adult mosquitoes to their offspring) has been observed, as the virus has been isolated from various life stages of this mosquito, suggesting a robust maintenance cycle in nature.

## Hosts

Wild birds serve as the primary hosts for Gamboa virus, with serological evidence indicating infection across multiple bird families in Central America and South America. While there is also evidence of infection in humans and other animals, it does not appear to cause disease in these species.

## Disease

Gamboa virus is not associated with disease in humans or animals under natural conditions. Experimental infections in newborn chicks have shown minor histopathological changes, but these findings do not reflect outcomes in naturally infected hosts.

## Distribution

The virus has been isolated from several countries in Central and South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, and Suriname, indicating a wide distribution across tropical regions.

## Research

Scientific studies on Gamboa virus have emphasized its genomic peculiarities, such as the absence of the NSs protein and an unusually large NSm protein, which may influence its host range and transmission dynamics. Phylogenetic analyses suggest a close relationship to Koongol virus, and the virus is divided into four genotypes based on the M segment.

## GenBank Accession Numbers

The complete genome sequences of various Gamboa virus strains are available in GenBank under the following accession numbers:
* BeAn448848: KX900423 (L), KX900424 (M), KX900425 (S)
* BeAN439546: MG019911 (L), MG019912 (M), MG019913 (S)
* BeAR502380: KX900426 (L), KX900427 (M), KX900428 (S)
* BeAR503385: KX900429 (L), KX900430 (M), KX900431 (S)
* TRVL-61469: KX900441 (L), KX900442 (M), KX900443 (S)
* MARU10962: KM272180 (L), KM272181 (M), KM272182 (S)
* GAM131: KT950266 (L), KT950270 (M), KT950262 (S)
* 75V-2621: KX900438 (L), KX900439 (M), KX900440 (S)
* GML382716: KX900432 (L), KX900433 (M), KX900434 (S)
* GML438524: KX900435 (L), KX900436 (M), KX900437 (S)
* MARU11079: KM272186 (L), KM272187 (M), KM272188 (S)
* GAM122: KT950264 (L), KT950268 (M), KT950260 (S)
* GAM130: KT950265 (L), KT950269 (M), KT950261 (S)
* GAM118: KT950263 (L), KT950267 (M), KT950256 (S)
* GML903023: KM272177 (L), KM272178 (M), KM272179 (S)
* GML435718: KM272174 (L), KM272175 (M), KM272176 (S)
* AG83-1347: KM272183 (L), KM272184 (M), KM272185 (S)