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Zika Virus NS1 Structure Reveals Diversity of Electrostatic Surfaces among Flaviviruses

26-04-2016

The association of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections with microcephaly has resulted in an ongoing public-health emergency. Here we report the crystal structure of a C-terminal fragment of ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1), a major host-interaction molecule that functions in flaviviral replication, pathogenesis and immune evasion. Comparison with West Nile and dengue virus NS1 structures reveals conserved features but diverse electrostatic characteristics at host-interaction interfaces, thus possibly implying different modes of flavivirus pathogenesis. The X-ray diffraction data were collected at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) at beamline BL17U1.

Comparison of ZIKV NS1172–352 with other known NS1172–352 structures.

Links:  doi:10.1038/nsmb.3213