Structural Aspects of Nipah Virus Glycoproteins using Predictive Protein Modeling
Nipah is a virus borne zoonotic disease that mostly occurs in Southeast Asian countries. Nipah virus (NiV) infection is potentially lethal as it can cause fatal encephalitis, and as of now, there are no vaccines or therapeutic treatments for this disease. The highly pathogenic NiV belongs to the Paramyxovirus family and the natural host of NiV is fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. Though NiV…
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic disease found predominantly in Southeast Asian nations. Characterized as a potentially lethal illness, NiV can lead to encephalitis with no existing vaccines or treatments. NiV is a member of the Paramyxovirus family, with its natural host being fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family. Although NiV has not been documented in the United States, a related virus, Camp Hill virus (CHV), was identified in shrew species in Camp Hill, Alabama.
CHV is structurally similar to NiV and belongs to the henipavirus genus, which includes Nipah and Hendra viruses. NiV possesses two surface glycoproteins, attachment glycoprotein (NiVG) and fusion glycoprotein (NiVF), which play crucial roles in viral entry to host cells. This study investigates the structural aspects of these viral glycoproteins using predictive protein modeling.
The research aims to establish evolutionary links between NiV glycoproteins and those of other viruses found in different countries. Additionally, the study examines the structure-function relationship of NiV glycoproteins through time-based molecular dynamics simulations. Such investigations could potentially inform the development of future therapeutic interventions and drug designs to combat NiV effectively.
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