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Hantaviruses are a group of enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses belonging to the family Hantaviridae, order Bunyavirales. These viruses are primarily carried by rodents and insectivores, and several species are known to cause severe human diseases, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Since the first isolation of Hantaan virus in 1976 from the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius in South Korea, over 50 hantavirus species have been identified worldwide, each associated with a specific reservoir host (Kruger et al., 2019).
Hantaviruses are maintained in nature through persistent, asymptomatic infections in their reservoir hosts. Human infection typically occurs via inhalation of aerosolized virus from contaminated rodent excreta. The public health significance of hantaviruses has been underscored by periodic outbreaks and the emergence of novel strains, making them a priority for surveillance, diagnostics, and vaccine development (Jonsson et al., 2019).
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Figure 1. Phylogenetic relationships among hantavirus subfamilies, genera, and species. (Chen et al., 2023)
Hantaviruses were historically classified within the genus Hantavirus under the family Bunyaviridae. However, following extensive taxonomic revision by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 2018, hantaviruses were reclassified into the family Hantaviridae, order Bunyavirales. The family Hantaviridae is now divided into four subfamilies: Mammantavirinae, Repantavirinae, Actantavirinae, and Agantavirinae, with the majority of human-pathogenic species residing in the subfamily Mammantavirinae (Maes et al., 2019).
The classification of hantaviruses is primarily based on phylogenetic analysis of the three genomic segments (L, M, and S) and the degree of sequence divergence. Currently, more than 53 species are formally recognized within the family, with new species continually being identified through metagenomic surveillance studies (Chen et al., 2023).
The hantavirus virion is roughly spherical to pleomorphic, approximately 80 to 120 nm in diameter. The viral envelope is derived from the host cell Golgi membrane and is studded with two surface glycoproteins, Gn (formerly G1) and Gc (formerly G2), which form spike complexes that mediate receptor binding and membrane fusion. Inside the envelope, the viral genome consists of three negative-sense, single-stranded RNA segments: Large (L), Medium (M), and Small (S), each encapsidated by the nucleocapsid protein (N) and associated with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) to form ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) (Barr et al., 2021).
Figure 2. Schematic representation of the hantavirus virion showing surface glycoproteins (Gn/Gc), lipid envelope, and ribonucleoprotein complexes. (Barr et al., 2021)
Table 1. Hantavirus Genome Segments and Their Encoded Proteins
| Segment | Size (kb) | Encoded Protein | Function |
| L (Large) | ~6.5 | RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp/L protein) | Transcription and replication of viral RNA |
| M (Medium) | ~3.6 | Glycoprotein precursor (cleaved into Gn and Gc) | Receptor binding, cell entry, and membrane fusion |
| S (Small) | ~1.7 | Nucleocapsid protein (N) | Viral RNA encapsidation, RNP assembly, immune modulation |
Among the more than 53 recognized hantavirus species, at least ten are known to cause human disease. These pathogenic hantaviruses are broadly categorized into two groups based on the clinical syndromes they produce: those causing HFRS (primarily found in Asia and Europe) and those causing HPS (primarily found in the Americas).
Table 2. Major Pathogenic Hantavirus Species
| Virus Species | Abbreviation | Primary Reservoir Host | Geographic Distribution | Associated Disease |
| Hantaan virus | HTNV | Apodemus agrarius | East Asia (China, Korea) | HFRS |
| Seoul virus | SEOV | Rattus norvegicus | Worldwide | HFRS (mild) |
| Puumala virus | PUUV | Myodes glareolus | Europe | HFRS (NE) |
| Dobrava-Belgrade virus | DOBV | Apodemus flavicollis | Balkans, Europe | HFRS (severe) |
| Saaremaa virus | SAAV | Apodemus agrarius | Central/Eastern Europe | HFRS (mild) |
| Sin Nombre virus | SNV | Peromyscus maniculatus | North America | HPS |
| Andes virus | ANDV | Oligoryzomys longicaudatus | South America | HPS |
| New York virus | NYV | Peromyscus leucopus | Eastern North America | HPS |
| Bayou virus | BAYV | Oryzomys palustris | Southern USA | HPS |
| Choclo virus | CHOV | Oligoryzomys fulvescens | Central America (Panama) | HPS |
The following figure illustrates the transmission routes of major hantaviruses from their reservoir hosts to humans:
Figure 3. Transmission routes of major hantaviruses in animals and humans. (Chen et al., 2023)
Hantavirus research has gained urgency due to several factors. First, the geographic range of hantavirus hosts is expanding due to climate change and urbanization, bringing new human populations into contact with reservoir species such as Rattus norvegicus and Peromyscus maniculatus. Second, the case fatality rate of HPS can reach 40%, and there are currently no FDA-approved specific antiviral treatments or vaccines for hantavirus infections. Third, advances in structural biology, including cryo-electron microscopy, have revealed the atomic-level details of hantavirus glycoprotein complexes, opening new avenues for rational vaccine and therapeutic antibody design (Barr et al., 2021; Jonsson et al., 2019).
For diagnostic and vaccine developers, understanding the antigenic structure of hantavirus glycoproteins Gn and Gc is critical. These surface proteins contain neutralizing epitopes and are the primary targets for ELISA-based serological assays, lateral flow rapid tests, and subunit vaccine candidates. Creative Diagnostics provides a comprehensive portfolio of hantavirus research reagents, including recombinant antigens, monoclonal antibodies, and ELISA kits, to support the global research community.
References
| Target | Cat. No. | Product Name | Size | Species Reactivity | Application | Detection Sample | |
| Hantavirus | DEIABL10 | Mouse Anti-Hantavirus ELISA Kit | 48T 2 | Mouse | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry |
| DEIA2203 | Human Hantavirus Hantaan ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry | |
| DEIA-JY2451 | Mouse Hantavirus (HV) Antibody ELISA Kit | 96T | Mouse | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry | |
| DEIA-JY2467 | Rat Hantavirus (HV) Antibody ELISA Kit | 96T | Rat | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry | |
| DEIA2203L | Human Hantavirus Nucleoprotein (HVNP) IgG/IgM ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry | |
| DEIA-NS2660 | Hantavirus IgG ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Serum or plasma (citrate or heparin) | Inquiry | |
| DEIA-NS2661 | Hantavirus IgM ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Serum or plasma (citrate or heparin) | Inquiry | |
| DEIA595 | Hantavirus Dobrava/Hantaan IgG/IgM ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Human serum | Inquiry | |
| DEIA596 | Hantavirus (Puumala) IgG/IgM ELISA Kit | 96T | Human | Qualitative | Serum | Inquiry |
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