Viral fusion proteins mediate the merger of host and viral membranes during cell entry for all enveloped viruses. Baculovirus glycoprotein gp64 (gp64) is unusual in promoting entry into both insect and mammalian cells and is distinct from established class I and class II fusion proteins. We report the crystal structure of its postfusion form, which explains a number of gp64's biological properties including its cellular promiscuity, identifies the fusion peptides and shows it to be the third representative of a new class (III) of fusion proteins with unexpected structural homology with vesicular stomatitis virus G and herpes simplex virus type 1 gB proteins. We show that domains of class III proteins have counterparts in both class I and II proteins, suggesting that all these viral fusion machines are structurally more related than previously thought.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.1484 | DOI Listing |
J Virol
January 2025
National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Coronaviruses are characterized by their progeny assembly and budding in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Our previous studies demonstrated that truncation of 9 amino acids in the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) spike (S) protein impairs its localization to the ERGIC, resulting in increased expression at the plasma membrane. However, the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon remained elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucosal Immunol
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Biology of Inflammation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address:
First- and secondhand smokers are at an increased risk for influenza virus (IFV)-related respiratory failure and death. Despite approved influenza antiviral treatments, there is an unmet need for treatments that can improve outcomes in populations at risk for respiratory failure, including tobacco users with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Here we show that the sialidase fusion protein, DAS181, reduced viral burden, mitigated inflammation, and attenuated lung function loss, consistent with broad-spectrum anti-influenza responses in a mouse model of COPD and IFV-A infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, P.O.Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed substantial challenges on our society due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus relies heavily on its surface glycoprotein (S-glycoprotein) to facilitate attachment, fusion, and entry into host cells. While the nucleoprotein (N) in the ribonucleoprotein core binds to the viral RNA genome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall
January 2025
Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
Developing a broad-spectrum antiviral is imperative in light of the recent emergence of recurring viral infections. The critical role of host-virus attachment and membrane fusion during enveloped virus entry is a suitable target for developing broad-spectrum antivirals. A new class of flavonoid-based fusion inhibitors are designed to alter the membrane's physical properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and viral reservoirs in the brain remain a significant challenge. Despite their importance, the mechanisms allowing HIV-1 entry and replication in the central nervous system (CNS) are poorly understood. Here, we show that α-synuclein and (to a lesser extent) Aβ fibrils associated with neurological diseases enhance HIV-1 entry and replication in human T cells, macrophages, and microglia.
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