Mumps orthorubulavirus (MuV) (MuV)

Mumps orthorubulavirus (MuV) is an enveloped, non-segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the family Paramyxoviridae [ICTV, 2022; UniProt, 2023]. It is the sole etiologic agent of mumps, an acute infectious disease primarily characterized by unilateral or bilateral swelling of the parotid salivary glands [CDC, 2021]. The virus utilizes its hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein to bind to sialic acid on host cells, while the fusion (F) protein mediates viral-cell membrane fusion for entry [PubMed, 2014]. Although parotitis is the most common manifestation, MuV exhibits tropism for various tissues, which can lead to complications such as orchitis, meningitis, and pancreatitis [StatPearls, 2023]. Control of the virus is successfully managed globally through live-attenuated vaccines, as there are no FDA-approved small-molecule antivirals specifically indicated for mumps treatment [WHO, 2019; NIH, 2022]. Despite high vaccination rates, the virus continues to pose a public health challenge in populations with waning immunity or low vaccine coverage.

Other names

Mumps virusMuVParamyxovirus mumps

Vaccines provide active immunity by inducing neutralizing antibodies and T-cell mediated immune responses against viral surface glycoproteins, specifically the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) proteins [StatPearls, 2023; CDC, 2021]. Ribavirin, an experimental antiviral agent, acts by inhibiting the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and interfering with viral RNA capping and synthesis [PubMed, 2012].