scholarly journals MEPPitope: spatial, electrostatic and secondary structure perturbations in the post-fusion Dengue virus envelope protein highlights known epitopes and conserved residues in the Zika virus

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
E Proteins ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Critical Residues ◽  
Virus Envelope Protein ◽  
Electrostatic Perturbation

The dramatic transformation of the Zika virus (ZIKV) from a relatively unknown virus to a pathogen generating global-wide panic has exposed the dearth of detailed knowledge about this virus. Decades of research in the related Dengue virus (DENV), finally culminating in a vaccine registered for use in endemic regions (CYD-TDV), provides key insights in developing strategies for tackling ZIKV. The previously established MEPP methodology compares two conformations of the same protein and identifies residues with significant spatial and electrostatic perturbations. In the current work, MEPP analyzed the pre-and post-fusion DENV type 2 envelope (E) protein, and identified several known epitopes (His317, Tyr299, Glu26, Arg188, etc.) (MEPPitope). These residues are overwhelmingly conserved in ZIKV and all DENV serotypes. Characterization of α-helices in E-proteins show that α1 is not conserved in the sequence space of ZIKV and DENV. Furthermore, perturbation of α1 in the post-fusion DENV structure includes a known epitope Asp215, a residue absent in the pre-fusion α1. A cationic β-sheet in the GAG-binding domain that is stereochemically equivalent in ZIKV and all DENV serotypes is also highlighted due to a residue pair (Arg286-Arg288) that has a significant electrostatic polarity reversal upon fusion. Finally, two highly conserved residues (Thr32 and Thr40), with little emphasis in existing literature, are found to have significant electrostatic perturbation. Thus, a combination of different computational methods enable the rapid and rational detection of critical residues that can be made the target of small drugs, or as epitopes in the search for an elusive therapy or vaccine that neutralizes multiple members of theFlaviviridaefamily.

scholarly journals Computational analysis of perturbations in the post-fusion Dengue virus envelope protein highlights known epitopes and conserved residues in the Zika virus

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Magnetic Beads ◽  
Secondary Structures ◽  
Polarity Reversal ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
E Protein

The dramatic transformation of the Zika virus (ZIKV) from a relatively unknown virus to a pathogen generating global-wide panic has exposed the dearth of detailed knowledge about this virus. Decades of research in the related Dengue virus (DENV), finally culminating in a vaccine registered for use in endemic regions (CYD-TDV) in three countries, provides key insights in developing strategies for tackling ZIKV, which has caused global panic to microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Dengue virus (DENV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, the causal agent of the self-limiting Dengue fever and the potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome, has been a scourge in tropical countries for many centuries. The recently solved structure of mature ZIKV (PDB ID:5IRE) has provided key insights into the structure of the envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins, the primary target of neutralizing antibodies. The previously established MEPP methodology compares two conformations of the same protein and identifies residues with significant spatial and electrostatic perturbations. In the current work, MEPP analyzed the pre-and post-fusion DENV type 2 envelope (E) protein, and identified several known epitopes (His317, Tyr299, Glu26, Arg188, etc.) (MEPPitope). These residues are overwhelmingly conserved in ZIKV and all DENV serotypes, and also enumerates residue pairs that undergo significant polarity reversal. Characterization of α-helices in E-proteins show that α1 is not conserved in the sequence space of ZIKV and DENV. Furthermore, perturbation of α1 in the post-fusion DENV structure includes a known epitope Asp215, a residue absent in the pre-fusion α1. A cationic β-sheet in the GAG-binding domain that is stereochemically equivalent in ZIKV and all DENV serotypes is also highlighted due to a residue pair (Arg286-Arg288) that has a significant electrostatic polarity reversal upon fusion. Finally, two highly conserved residues (Thr32 and Thr40), with little emphasis in existing literature, are found to have significant electrostatic perturbation. Thus, a combination of different computational methods enable the rapid and rational detection of critical residues as epitopes in the search for an elusive therapy or vaccine that neutralizes multiple members of the Flaviviridae family. These secondary structures are conserved in the related Dengue virus (DENV), and possibly rationalize isolation techniques particle adsorption on magnetic beads coated with anionic polymers and anionic antiviral agents (viprolaxikine) for DENV. These amphipathic α-helices could enable design of molecules for inhibiting α-helix mediated protein-protein interactions. Finally, comparison of these secondary structures in proteins from related families illuminate subtle changes in the proteins that might render them ineffective to previously successful drugs and vaccines, which are difficult to identify by a simple sequence or structural alignment. Finally, conflicting results about residues that are involved in neutralizing a DENV-E protein by the potent antibody 5J7 (PDB ID:3J6U) are reported.

Dengue virus envelope protein domain III-elicited antibodies mediate cross-protection against Zika virus in a mouse model

2020 ◽  
Vol 278 ◽  
pp. 197882
Author(s):  
Yongchao Zhou ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
Lan Yang ◽  
Weiwei Zou ◽  
Zhiliang Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Cross Protection ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
Virus Envelope Protein ◽  
Domain Iii

Epitopes based drug design for dengue virus envelope protein: A computational approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 152-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Wadood ◽  
Aamir Mehmood ◽  
Huma Khan ◽  
Muhammad Ilyas ◽  
Ayaz Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Design ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Computational Approach ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
Virus Envelope Protein

scholarly journals Low seroprevalence of Zika virus infection among adults in Southern Taiwan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Chien ◽  
Tzu-Chuan Ho ◽  
Pei-Wen Huang ◽  
Nai-Ying Ko ◽  
Wen-Chien Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Denv Serotypes ◽  
Southeast Asian Countries

Abstract Background We recently conducted a serosurvey of newly arrived workers in Taiwan from four Southeast Asian countries which revealed that 1% of the migrant workers had laboratory-confirmed recent Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Taiwan, where Aedes mosquitoes are prevalent, has a close relationship with Southeast Asian countries. Up to now, 21 imported cases of ZIKV infection have been reported in Taiwan, but there has been no confirmed indigenous case. The aim of this serosurvey was to assess whether there was unrecognized ZIKV infections in Taiwan. Methods A total of 212 serum samples collected in a cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study conducted during the end of the 2015 dengue epidemic in Tainan, Taiwan, were analyzed. Anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG were tested using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) for ZIKV and four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes were performed for samples with positive anti-ZIKV antibodies. A confirmed case of ZIKV infection was defined by ZIKV PRNT90 titer ratio ≥ 4 compared to four DENV serotypes. Results The mean age of the 212 participants was 54.0 years (standard deviation 13.7 years), and female was predominant (67.0%). Anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG were detected in 0 (0%) and 9 (4.2%) of the 212 participants, respectively. For the 9 samples with anti-ZIKV IgG, only 1 sample had 4 times higher ZIKV PRNT90 titers compared to PRNT90 titers against four dengue virus serotypes; this individual denied having traveled abroad. Conclusions The results suggest that undetected indigenous ZIKV transmission might have occurred in Taiwan. The findings also suggest that the threat of epidemic transmission of ZIKV in Taiwan does exist due to extremely low-level of herd immunity. Our study also indicates that serological tests for ZIKV-specific IgG remain a big challenge due to cross-reactivity, even in dengue non-endemic countries.

scholarly journals Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Zika Virus Envelope Domain III in DNA, Protein, and ChAdOx1 Adenoviral-Vectored Vaccines

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
César López-Camacho ◽  
Giuditta De Lorenzo ◽  
Jose Luis Slon-Campos ◽  
Stuart Dowall ◽  
Peter Abbink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Protein Domain ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Domain Iii ◽  
Open Question

The flavivirus envelope protein domain III (EDIII) was an effective immunogen against dengue virus (DENV) and other related flaviviruses. Whether this can be applied to the Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccinology remains an open question. Here, we tested the efficacy of ZIKV-EDIII against ZIKV infection, using several vaccine platforms that present the antigen in various ways. We provide data demonstrating that mice vaccinated with a ZIKV-EDIII as DNA or protein-based vaccines failed to raise fully neutralizing antibodies and did not control viremia, following a ZIKV challenge, despite eliciting robust antibody responses. Furthermore, we showed that ZIKV-EDIII encoded in replication-deficient Chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1-EDIII) elicited anti-ZIKV envelope antibodies in vaccinated mice but also provided limited protection against ZIKV in two physiologically different mouse challenge models. Taken together, our data indicate that contrary to what was shown for other flaviviruses like the dengue virus, which has close similarities with ZIKV-EDIII, this antigen might not be a suitable vaccine candidate for the correct induction of protective immune responses against ZIKV.

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