Primer: Orbiviruses

ABSTRACT Orbiviruses comprise numerous species and are transmitted by insect vectors. They are non-enveloped viruses with a multilayered capsid and a segmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome. Bluetongue virus (BTV), the prototype species of the genus Orbivirus , is a significant pathogen of livestock and is widely distributed throughout the world, causing serious periodic outbreaks with substantial economic consequences. Consequently, BTV has been extensively studied as a model orbivirus, resulting in a comprehensive understanding of its molecular epidemiology, genetics, biochemistry, structure, and replication cycle. This includes detailed insights into virus entry into host cells, synthesis of progeny viral components, assembly of new virions, and subsequent cell-to-cell transmission. This review summarizes the current literature on each of these aspects and discusses how this knowledge has been applied to develop novel vaccines against BTV and related orbiviruses. In addition, the review highlights important gaps in our understanding of virus replication within insect vectors, particularly Culicoides biting midges (gnats), at the molecular level. Addressing these gaps will provide valuable insights into orbivirus evolution, transmission, and the emergence of new viral strains.