Borna disease virus

Description and significance:
A neurotropic, noncytolytic, negative, and single-stranded enveloped RNA virus. It has a wide geographic distribution and host range, including horses, sheep, and humans. In humans, it causes a range of neurological disorders ranging from encephalitis to manic-depressive symptoms. Some studies have demonstrated a therapeutic effect of the antiviral agent amantadine in BDV-infected, depressed patients.

Genome structure:
BDV has a ca. 8.9 kb genome size of encapsulated, non-segmented, single-stranded RNA with five open reading frames (ORFs). ORFs I, II, and III correspond to 40-kDa p40, 24-kDa p24, and 14.5-kDa p14.5 BDV proteins, respectively.

BDV replicates and transcribes in the nuclei of its hosts

What makes it biologically interesting?
Its application to Biotechnology... its medical importance... major research findings made with it... what's cool about borna disease virus as an organism: