Rotavirus vs VZV (Varicella-zoster virus)
Varicella Zoster Virus, a type of herpes virus and rotavirus are some of the top standing viruses in the world. They are 2 of the most contagious diseases that lead to a number of deaths annually and can lead to pandemics in the near future.
Herpesvirus is also known as herpesviridae is a family of DNA viruses that affect animals, including humans. There are 9 different types of herpesviruses including herpes simplex viruses both 1 and 2, HSV-1 and type 2, VZV also known as chickenpox, Epstein- Barr virus, and human cytomegalovirus. There are more than 130 herpesviruses in total affecting anything from birds to amphibians to even fish.
All types of herpes viruses share a similar key structure. They have a large double-stranded, linear DNA genome that encodes up to 200 genes. They are icosahedral meaning that they resemble a soccer ball and they have a lipid bilayer membrane which makes an envelope around the structure.
VZV also known as Varicella Zoster Virus causes chickenpox that most commonly affects children and teens, and shingles in older adults. VZV multiplies in the lungs causing symptoms including fevers, fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, and reddish spots on the skin. VZV is not a lethal virus though it is very infectious. On average of 4 million people that got varicella in the 1990s, around 13,000 were hospitalized .
Varicella has a genome size of 124,000 to 126,000 base pairs containing around 70 genes that are distributed equally among two DNA strands. VZV has an enveloped linear double-stranded DNA molecule that is predominantly composed of viral regulatory proteins that are around the icosahedral nucleocapsid core.
Rotavirus is the most contagious virus as of now. With over 250,000 deaths annually, it targets children under the age of 5. There are two different types of rotaviruses, type 1 which is an RNA virus and type 2 which does not have RNA and has just the protein. Since type 1 has RNA it is more lethal but type 2 is significant since it allows scientists to create future vaccinations for rotavirus.
The rotavirus is around 75 nanometers in diameter which is fairly small compared to other viral proteins. It is in the shape of an icosahedral that has polyhedron with 20 faces, similar to the structure of herpesviruses. Under a microscope, the virus resembles wheels which leads it to the name of ‘rota’virus, rota meaning wheel in Latin. The rotavirus also has 3 concentric layers of proteins with no lipid envelope, defining it as a non-enveloped structure.
The rotavirus’ genome is a double-stranded RNA segment genome which is unnatural and resembles a very “weird” genetic hard drive. It contains 11 segments, coding for 12 proteins with the size ranging from 667 to 3,302 nt. The genome total size is 18,550 base pairs and the viral mRNAs contain 5’ methylated cap structures but unfortunately the lack the poly A tail.
Rotavirus is most commonly known as being one of the deadliest diseases in children/ youth but in reality, the virus itself does not create that lethal frame, it is our economy. Most youth that get rotavirus are affected by it due to unsanitary environments specifically in minor areas. Once the child gets affected it’s very hard for the parents to provide help mostly due to water shortages. Unlike rotavirus, varicella zoster virus is very common to treat. Vaccines prevent 95% of moderate disease and 100% of severe diseases while rotavirus only protects 70% max.
Rotavirus is spread through the transmission of the fecal-oral route usually through direct contact between people. Transmission of the virus can also occur through contaminated surfaces/objects and food/ water. Chickenpox is also a very contagious disease and spreads easily from people with chickenpox to others who never had the disease/ not vaccinated. The virus is transmitted primarily by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from the blisters. This makes the virus airborne.
Both VZV and rotavirus are very contagious diseases and have similar structures. They both are RNA viruses and primarily are targeted towards youth. They both are very common with many deaths, causing population decreases in minority countries. VZV and rotavirus are presented in a very differentiated manner. Rotavirus is a gastroenteritis virus that leads to digestive symptoms while VZV primarily affects skin pigments.
{Rotavirus virion}
https://viralzone.expasy.org/107?outline=all_by_species
{VZV structure} https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/tag-varicella-zoster-virus-antigens-39.htm
{Patient with Varicella Zoster Virus}
Symptoms: chicken pox, red spots on the skin
{Symptoms of Rotavirus in a child}
Citations
“Varicella Zoster Virus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicella_zoster_virus.
“Transmission.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 June 2016, www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/transmission.html.
“Rotavirus.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Apr. 2018, www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/index.html.
