Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) (SFTSV)

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), officially known as Dabie bandavirus, is an emerging tick-borne phlebovirus within the Phenuiviridae family [1, 12]. It is the causative agent of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a severe infectious disease first identified in China in 2009 and now prevalent across East Asia, including Japan and South Korea [6, 13]. The virus is primarily transmitted by the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis and causes symptoms such as high fever, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and multiorgan dysfunction, with a case fatality rate ranging from 6% to 30% [1, 14]. SFTSV possesses a tripartite negative-sense RNA genome (L, M, and S segments) encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), glycoproteins (Gn and Gc), a nucleoprotein (N), and a non-structural protein (NSs) that facilitates immune evasion [1, 15]. Currently, there are no specific FDA-approved antivirals or vaccines for SFTSV [2, 4]. Therapeutic research focuses on repurposing drugs like favipiravir and ribavirin to inhibit RdRp, using calcium channel blockers like nifedipine to prevent viral entry, and developing monoclonal antibodies to neutralize the virus [2, 3, 11].

Other names

Dabie bandavirusHuaiyangshan banyangvirusSFTS virusSFTSVPhlebovirusBunyavirus

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibition, Calcium channel blockade, Viral entry inhibition, Neutralizing antibody, IL-6 receptor antagonism