Mumps virus

The virus, or Myxovirus parotitis, causes mumps.

Features of the mumps virus

The mumps virus is a virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Rubulavirusgenus. The virion is spherical, 150 nanometres in diameter, and is enveloped by a membrane obtained from the cell from which it originates. It has negative polarity (not directly coding) RNA genome of more than 15,000 bases. It codes for 8 proteins including the SH protein, a small hydrophobic protein which inserts into the envelope.

Mumps virus and mumps

The mumps virus has tropism for the respiratory system through which it enters the body. It then spreads to the whole body in the blood. In particular, it colonises the glandular system and central nervous system.

The virus enters the target cell by the viral envelope attaching to and fusing with the cell membrane. The encapsulated RNA is released into the cytoplasm where it is transcribed into messenger RNA that in turn is translated into proteins. After the viral genome has replicated and capsid proteins have accumulated, new virions are created and excreted.