Rhinovirus C viruses cause the common cold as well as severe respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations in children. Currently, no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments are available, partly due to a lack of knowledge about rhinovirus C structures.
Researchers exploited recent technological advances in single-particle cryo-EM to determine the atomic structures of the full, infectious rhinovirus C15a particle as well as the noninfectious empty particle.
The outer surface of the virus is studded with 60 spike-like protrusions, or fingers, which are likely recognized by antibodies produced by the host immune system. Because the external surfaces of both types of particles are nearly identical, the noninfectious empty particle could potentially serve as a safe and effective vaccine candidate.
Near the base of each finger lies a surface depression, or canyon, which likely forms the binding site for receptors located on host cells. However, a pocket underneath the canyon floor is collapsed and filled with bulky amino acids, potentially explaining why antiviral agents that target the pocket are not effective against the virus.
According to the authors, the findings could provide the basis for designing vaccines and novel antiviral therapeutics for severe respiratory diseases in children and adults.
http://www.pnas.org/content/113/32/8997
Structure of rhinovirus C linked to severe childhood asthma
- 2,292 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
Chromatin and RNA interacti…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Why patients with ARID1A mu…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Smuggling small molecule mo…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Men with gene mutations are…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
B cell oxidative phosphoryl…
By newseditor
Posted 17 May
Other Top Stories
Gut microbiota act via endocannabinoid system to regulate depressiv…
Read more
Genes may be involved in severe form of COVID-19
Read more
How Leishmania Evades Immune System
Read more
Baricitinib plus Remdesivir shows promise for treating COVID-19
Read more
Majority of pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 were as…
Read more
Protocols
Breast cancer-on-chip for p…
By newseditor
Posted 16 May
Methods for making and obse…
By newseditor
Posted 15 May
Mime-seq 2.0: a method to s…
By newseditor
Posted 13 May
Improved detection of DNA r…
By newseditor
Posted 09 May
Single-cell adhesive profil…
By newseditor
Posted 07 May
Publications
Immunotherapy for colorecta…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Single-cell multiplex chrom…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Autophagy preferentially de…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
GLP-1-directed NMDA recepto…
By newseditor
Posted 18 May
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar