+Search query
-Structure paper
| Title | Cryo-EM structure of African horse sickness virus VP2 receptor-binding protein enables nanoparticle vaccine design. |
|---|---|
| Journal, issue, pages | Nat Commun, Year 2026 |
| Publish date | Jul 4, 2026 |
Authors | Ane Martínez-Castillo / Andrea Aebischer / Philippine Toneatti / Lifei Fu / Damien Vitour / Corinne Sailleau / Bernd Hoffmann / Kati Franzke / Michael Eschbaumer / Saskia Weber / Eva Calvo Pinilla / Javier Ortego / David Gil-Cartón / Emmanuel Bréard / Stéphan Zientara / Jeroen Kortekaas / Martin Beer / Nicola Ga Abrescia / ![]() |
| PubMed Abstract | African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal equine pathogen with no licensed vaccine other than vaccines containing attenuated virus, which pose safety risks. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHSV ...African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal equine pathogen with no licensed vaccine other than vaccines containing attenuated virus, which pose safety risks. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHSV has caused epizootics in Spain and Portugal, Cyprus, Morocco, the Middle East, India and Pakistan and, most recently, Thailand. Here, we resolve the 3.11 Å cryo-EM structure of full-length VP2 from AHSV serotype 4, adopting its native triskelion architecture and shedding light on an α-helical domain anchoring the triskelion core, which is absent in other structurally characterized orbiviruses. Structure-guided mapping identified a subdomain of VP2 as a key target of neutralizing antibodies. Displayed on nanoparticles using the SpyCatcher/SpyTag technology, the domain conferred complete protection from clinical disease after viral challenge infection in mice and elicited robust and long-lasting immune responses in horses, the target species of AHSV. These findings provide a structural blueprint for the next generation of recombinant vaccines against AHSV and related orbiviruses. |
External links | Nat Commun / PubMed:42401561 |
| Methods | EM (single particle) |
| Resolution | 3.11 - 3.54 Å |
| Structure data | ![]() EMDB-55789: Structure of vaccine candidate AHSV-4 VP2 DI-mi3 nanoparticle EMDB-55790, PDB-9tcc: |
| Chemicals | ![]() ChemComp-ZN: |
| Source |
|
Keywords | VIRAL PROTEIN / serotype determinant / protective inmmunity |
Movie
Controller
Structure viewers
About Yorodumi Papers



Authors

External links




Thermotoga maritima (bacteria)
african horse sickness virus 4
Keywords