Influenza virus genome: finally discovered in its coat
Research
On December 18, 2024
To fight the virus that causes influenza, one of the avenues being explored by scientists is the development of drugs capable of destabilising its genome, made up of eight RNA[1] molecules. But the challenge is daunting: each RNA molecule is tightly bound to an assembly of proteins which creates a double helix, forming a protective coat that is difficult to manipulate.
For the first time, however, the structure of this protective mantle and its interactions with the virus' RNA have been described on an atomic scale by scientists from the CNRS[2] and l’Université Grenoble Alpes – a result that has been awaited by the scientific community for almost forty years. The research team has also revealed the precise positioning of the RNA molecules in their protective coat, and the interactions between the two helix strands.
The results have just been published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, and were obtained using biochemical approaches and state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy provided by the Integrated Structural Biology, Grenoble (CEA/CNRS/EMBL/UGA).
This breakthrough paves the way for the design of new drug molecules capable of binding to the protein coat, weakening viral RNA and inhibiting replication of the influenza virus, whose epidemics affect between 2 and 6 million people in France every winter, and cause around 10,000 deaths in susceptible individuals[3] .
3D reconstruction of the arrangement of an influenza virus RNA molecule (yellow) in its double-helix protein coat (purple and green). The atomic visualisation of these intimate protective interactions opens the door to the development of molecules which, by interfering between the RNA and its protective coat, could provide an effective means to prevent virus replication.© Chenavier-Crépin
The results have just been published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, and were obtained using biochemical approaches and state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy provided by the Integrated Structural Biology, Grenoble (CEA/CNRS/EMBL/UGA).
This breakthrough paves the way for the design of new drug molecules capable of binding to the protein coat, weakening viral RNA and inhibiting replication of the influenza virus, whose epidemics affect between 2 and 6 million people in France every winter, and cause around 10,000 deaths in susceptible individuals[3] .
3D reconstruction of the arrangement of an influenza virus RNA molecule (yellow) in its double-helix protein coat (purple and green). The atomic visualisation of these intimate protective interactions opens the door to the development of molecules which, by interfering between the RNA and its protective coat, could provide an effective means to prevent virus replication.© Chenavier-Crépin[1] their genetic material consists of RNA. These viruses use the machinery of the cells they infect not only to replicate their RNA but also to decode it. The viral molecules thus produced then rearrange to form new copies of the virus, which go on to infect new cells.
[2] Working at l’Institut de biologie structurale (CEA/CNRS/UGA)
[3] Institut Pasteur
[2] Working at l’Institut de biologie structurale (CEA/CNRS/UGA)
[3] Institut Pasteur
Published on December 18, 2024
Updated on December 18, 2024
Updated on December 18, 2024
Bibliography
Influenza A virus antiparallel helical nucleocapsid-like pseudo-atomic structure.
Florian Chenavier, Eleftherios Zarkadas, Lily-Lorette Freslon, Alice J. Stelfox, Guy Schoehn, Rob W.H. Ruigrok, Allison Ballandras-Colas et Thibaut Crépin.
Nucleic Acids Research, le 14 décembre 2024.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae1211
Florian Chenavier, Eleftherios Zarkadas, Lily-Lorette Freslon, Alice J. Stelfox, Guy Schoehn, Rob W.H. Ruigrok, Allison Ballandras-Colas et Thibaut Crépin.
Nucleic Acids Research, le 14 décembre 2024.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae1211
