The viral order Mononegavirales contains a number of important emerging, re-emerging, and neglected human pathogens, including Ebola, measles, and rabies viruses, respectively.

Mononegaviruses have negative-sense single-stranded RNA genomes that, along with other viral proteins, form nucleocapsids (NCs): ribonucleoprotein complexes required for viral transcription. Viral transcription is performed by a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and other viral protein cofactors. The replication components are released from infected cells by budding, which is induced by polymerization of viral matrix proteins on the inner cell membrane surface. Budded viruses are membrane-enveloped and pleomorphic. Viral uptake into uninfected cells is facilitated by viral glycoproteins.  

Despite similar molecular components, mononegaviruses exhibit diversity in their gene products, virus structures, and pathologies. Our research will initially focus on the filoviruses, Ebola and Marburg viruses. Ebola virus mortality rates range from 20 – 90%, depending on strain, and outbreaks are becoming more frequent. The high mortality rates and lack of effective treatments for these viruses highlights the need for a mechanistic understanding of their life cycles.