First insight into the architecture of viral filaments in Rift Valley Fever virus

First insight into the architecture of viral filaments in Rift Valley Fever virus
The NSs protein of RVFV forms characteristic filaments (green) in the nuclei of infected cells (red). A three-dimensional structure of a fibrillar assembly of NSs, determined by Barski et al using X-ray crystallography (green) is shown on top of an image of three infected cells. Credit: Ben Brennan and Uli Schwarz-Linek

Researchers at the Universities of St Andrews and Glasgow have made a significant step forward in tackling a viral disease which causes frequent epidemics in Africa and could spread to Europe due to global warming.

Dr Michal Barski and Dr Uli Schwarz-Linek of the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, with colleagues at the University of Glasgow, have published a paper in online journal eLife revealing new information about a key molecule used by the virus to cause disease, which could help to eventually find a cure or a vaccine.

Rift Valley phlebovirus (RVFV) is a virus affecting humans and livestock which is transmitted by mosquitos and contact with infected animals. RVFV is increasingly likely to cause widespread epidemics, and could potentially follow the pattern of Dengue virus or West Nile virus and spread to temperate regions, such as Europe or the USA, as allows the mosquitos which carry the virus to extend their geographic range.

Infection can cause severe disease, including haemorrhagic fever, and may lead to death. Historically, the virus was only found in central Africa but has spread to the Arabian Peninsula. There are no vaccines or treatments available for use in humans so if there is a serious outbreak of the virus it could become an and cause great economic loss and severe human disease.

The research team combined two techniques, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, carried out at Diamond Light Source, to study the atomic three-dimensional structure of NSs – a key molecule of the RVFV virus which assembles into large fibres inside .

The virus relies on NSs to cause disease but the mechanism behind this process, and the formation of the fibres, have not been fully understood. The structure of this molecule revealed that only the central part, or core domain, of the protein is needed for the fibres to form. Further experiments identified how NSs molecules come together to build the fibres inside the infected cells.

Dr Schwarz-Linek said: "The structural insights we generated will help to unravel the complexity of Rift Valley fever. It will pave the way for research on Rift Valley fever phlebovirus and many other related viruses that have the ability to infect animals and humans."

Dr Barski added: "With this research we have opened up a new avenue for understanding Rift Valley fever virus and hopefully also for developing therapy targeted at this virus. The recent, sudden epidemics of Ebola virus and Zika have highlighted the need to understand dangerous tropical viral diseases which could quickly spread to far away places. Rift Valley fever is on that very short list of viruses which might cause large epidemics next."

These findings mark an important step towards understanding how the NSs protein helps RVFV to cause disease in humans and livestock. In the future, this work may aid the development of much needed drugs and vaccines against RVFV.

Earlier this year the World Health Organization ranked RVFV among the ten most dangerous pathogens most likely to cause wide epidemics in the near future, requiring urgent attention: www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/en/

More information: Michal Barski et al. Rift Valley fever phlebovirus NSs protein core domain structure suggests molecular basis for nuclear filaments, eLife (2017). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.29236

Journal information: eLife

Citation: First insight into the architecture of viral filaments in Rift Valley Fever virus (2017, September 21) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2017-09-insight-architecture-viral-filaments-rift.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever virus causes miscarriage

33 shares

Feedback to editors