Bunyaviridae

A family of arboviruses composed of more than 200 virus serotypes and containing at least five genera : Bunyavirus, Hantavirus, Phlebovirus, Nairovirus, and Tospovirus. Virions in all genera except Hantavirus replicate in arthropods. Virions are 80–120 nm in diameter, sensitive to lipid solvents and detergents, and enveloped with glycopolypeptide surface projections; the nucleocapsid is of helical symmetry containing 3 molecules of single-stranded RNA (MW 5–8 × 10⁶). [Bunyamwere, Uganda]

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Bun·ya·vi·ri·dae .bən-yə-'vir-ə-.dē n pl a family of single-stranded RNA viruses that are spherical to pleomorphic in shape with projections of glycoprotein embedded in a surface bilayer of lipid, that are usu. transmitted by the bite of an arthropod (as a mosquito) or in the bodily secretions of rodents, that infect vertebrates and arthropods, and that include the hantaviruses and the causative agents of Nairobi sheep disease, Rift Valley fever, sandfly fever, and some forms of encephalitis (as La Crosse encephalitis) and hemorrhagic fever see phlebovirus

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Bun·ya·vi·ri·dae (bun″yə-virґĭ-de) the bunyaviruses: a family of RNA viruses having a spherical or oval virion 80–120 nm in diameter consisting of a lipid bilayer envelope, with glycoprotein surface projections 5–10 nm long and 10–12 nm across in hexagonal arrangement, surrounding three loosely helical nucleocapsids. The genome consists of three molecules of circular negative-sense or ambisense single-stranded RNA, designated L, M, and S (total MW 4.8–8Ч10⁶, size of total genome 11–20 kb). Viruses contain four major structural polypeptides, including a transcriptase, and are sensitive to lipid solvents and detergents. Replication occurs in the cytoplasm and assembly is by budding through the smooth membrane of the Golgi apparatus. Host ranges vary; transmission is generally by arthropod vectors, although transmission by aerosols and avian vectors sometimes occurs. Genera include Orthobunyavirus, Hantavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus, and Tospovirus.