It is the only member of the genus Dianlovirus.[1] The name derives from 滇 (diān), the Chinese language abbreviation for Yunnan, added to "filovirus", the common name for Filoviridae.[1] Neither the species nor the genus are listed in the 2018 ICTV classification, as the virus was formally described after that report was released.[3] A formal proposal was submitted for the taxa in January 2019.[4]
MLAV proteins, including VP35 and VP40, inhibit host immune responses by interfering with interferon signaling, contributing to immune evasion similar to other filoviruses.[5] Like other filoviruses, Mengla virus utilizes the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) receptor for cell entry, a trait that may facilitate cross-species transmission.[6]
