Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a pathogen of rabbits that causes major problems throughout the world where rabbits are reared for food and clothing, make a significant contribution to ecosystem ecology, and where they support valued wildlife as a food source. The high mortality caused by RHDV has driven research in protecting rabbits from infection. However, RHDV is an unusual calicivirus in that it has served also as an important model in the family Caliciviridae by providing a range of beneficial outcomes as diverse as the creation of virus-like particles (VLPs) for vaccine and therapeutics delivery, the elucidation of calicivirus replication and structural features at the molecular level, and the biological control of a vertebrate pest.

Further reading: Caliciviruses: Molecular and Cellular Virology

Labels: Caliciviridae, Lagoviruses, Rabbit viruses, RHDV, Virus-like particles, VLPs