[1] It derives its name from Phlebotominae, the vectors of member species Naples phlebovirus, which is said to be ultimately from the Greek phlebos, meaning "vein".

Examples of this are Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-3-Grabbing Non-Integrin (DC-SIGN), heparan sulfate (HS), or Non-Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain (NMMHC-IIA).

Additionally, the fusion of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in late endosomes is inhibited by the interferon-induced transmembrane proteins 2 and 3 (IFITIM2 and IFITIM3).

Fifth, two ER chaperones, binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) and calnexin, are required to ensure proper folding of GN/Gc.

This known fact cased some surprise when studies showed that UUKKV and RVFV particles are spherically shaped and highly ordered.

In these cases, Gn forms the spikes of the capsomere while Gc is closer to the lipid membrane, thus placing it underneath.

This is largely due to protonation triggering conformational changes in Gc, commonly included with membrane fusion.

An assembly model for the RVFV envelope has been proposed which consists of Gc dimers positioned horizontally with respect to the viral membrane.

It is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which is an unbranched polysaccharide made of disaccharide repeats, that results in the creation of a proteoglycan.

The location of a histidine in Gc resembled a pH sensing feature, which matches class II characteristics.

Phlebotomus sandflies are the primary sources for dipteran-borne phleboviruses, with Rift Valley fever virus being the exception (RVFV is associated with mosquitos and has a greater variety in its vector range).

Maintenance of the viruses is mainly completed through the vector species by means of vertical (transovarial) transmission.

Concerns over the potential introduction of RVFV into susceptible areas has grown due to the increasing spread of vector species.

In rural China, SFTSV, which is transmitted by ticks, was identified as the result of increased cases of a febrile illness combined with thrombocytopenia, leukenocytopenia, multiple organ dysfunction, and a high case-fatality rate.

North America had a similar case, which was found to be a result of the Heartland virus, which is transmitted by ticks.

The Toscana virus has a high rate of vertical transmission, as demonstrated in sandflies through experimental infection.

This suggests that there is an amplified role for vertebrate hosts despite the maintenance in nature coming mainly from sandflies.

For example, "sandfly" in the United States refers to horse flies or members of the family Ceratopogonidae.

Two of the three main genera were found in the Old World, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, and contain the prominent species that transmit the viral pathogens.

A change in classification rules was prompted due to the difficulty in detecting new phlebovirus in serological assays.

As a result, viral species are now defined by 95% or greater identity in the amino acid sequences of their respective RNA-dependent RNA plymerase (RdRp).

In addition to ticks and mosquitos, some Phleboviruses have been isolated from vertebrates like rodents in America and opossums or sloths in Africa.