Alphaviruses

Alphaviruses are infectious agents that replicate in humans and many animals; this viral genus includes Chikungunya virus, Semliki Forest virus and Sindbis virus. Alphaviruses are transmitted by arthropods, mainly mosquitoes, and thus are arboviruses.

Latest Research and Reviews

Research | 14 December 2018 | open

Implication for alphavirus host-cell entry and assembly indicated by a 3.5Å resolution cryo-EM structure

Alphaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that contain several human pathogens. Here, the authors use block-based reconstruction method and provide a 3.5 Å cryo-EM structure of sindbis virus that identifies a conserved hydrophobic pocket near the viral membrane that is stabilized by an unknown pocket factor.
- Lihong Chen
- , Ming Wang
- , Dongjie Zhu
- , Zhenzhao Sun
- , Jun Ma
- , Jinglin Wang
- , Lingfei Kong
- , Shida Wang
- , Zaisi Liu
- , Lili Wei
- , Yuwen He
- , Jingfei Wang
- & Xinzheng Zhang
Nature Communications 9, 5326
Research | 05 December 2018 | open

A quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for detection of Getah virus
- Sing-Sin Sam
- , Boon-Teong Teoh
- , Cheah-Mun Chee
- , Noor-Adila Mohamed-Romai-Noor
- , Juraina Abd-Jamil
- , Shih-Keng Loong
- , Chee-Sieng Khor
- , Kim-Kee Tan
- & Sazaly AbuBakar
Scientific Reports 8, 17632
Research | 19 November 2018

Protective antibodies against Eastern equine encephalitis virus bind to epitopes in domains A and B of the E2 glycoprotein

Neutralizing murine monoclonal antibodies against the Eeastern equine encephalitis virus target the E2 glycoprotein, block infection at a post-attachment stage by inhibiting viral membrane fusion and protect mice from lethal challenge.
- Arthur S. Kim
- , S. Kyle Austin
- , Christina L. Gardner
- , Adam Zuiani
- , Douglas S. Reed
- , Derek W. Trobaugh
- , Chengqun Sun
- , Katherine Basore
- , Lauren E. Williamson
- , James E. Crowe Jr.
- , Mark K. Slifka
- , Daved H. Fremont
- , William B. Klimstra
- & Michael S. Diamond
Nature Microbiology 4, 187-197
Research | 18 September 2018 | open

Lipid-Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Delivery of the ML336 Antiviral to Inhibit Encephalitic Alphavirus Infection
- Annette E. LaBauve
- , Torri E. Rinker
- , Achraf Noureddine
- , Rita E. Serda
- , Jane Y. Howe
- , Michael B. Sherman
- , Amy Rasley
- , C. Jeffery Brinker
- , Darryl Y. Sasaki
- & Oscar A. Negrete
Scientific Reports 8, 13990
Research | 17 July 2018 | open

Development of nsP2 protease based cell free high throughput screening assay for evaluation of inhibitors against emerging Chikungunya virus
- Amrita Saha
- , Badri Narayan Acharya
- , Raj Priya
- , Nagesh K. Tripathi
- , Ambuj Shrivastava
- , M. Kameswara Rao
- , Pooja Kesari
- , Manju Narwal
- , Shailly Tomar
- , Sameer S. Bhagyawant
- , Manmohan Parida
- & Paban Kumar Dash
Scientific Reports 8, 10831
Research | 16 May 2018

Mxra8 is a receptor for multiple arthritogenic alphaviruses

The cell adhesion molecule Mxra8 is identified as a receptor for multiple arthritogenic alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus, and anti-Mxra8 monoclonal antibodies are shown to reduce rates of chikungunya virus infection in mice and a range of human cells.
- Rong Zhang
- , Arthur S. Kim
- , Julie M. Fox
- , Sharmila Nair
- , Katherine Basore
- , William B. Klimstra
- , Rebecca Rimkunas
- , Rachel H. Fong
- , Hueylie Lin
- , Subhajit Poddar
- , James E. Crowe Jr
- , Benjamin J. Doranz
- , Daved H. Fremont
- & Michael S. Diamond
Nature 557, 570-574

All Research & Reviews

News and Comment

Research Highlights | 19 January 2016

Antivirals: Alphaviruses feel the STING
- Mirella Bucci
Nature Chemical Biology 12, 53
News | 07 October 2015

Chikungunya is moving fast, but so are researchers in the field
- Alan Dove
Nature Medicine 21, 1107
News | 30 October 2014

Zinc finger CCCH-type antiviral 1 (ZC3HAV1; ZAP)

In vitro and mouse studies suggest an oncolytic alphavirus could help treat cancers expressing low levels of ZAP.

Science-Business eXchange 7
Research Highlights | 28 December 2012

Azide inactivates chikungunya virus

Nature India
News and Views | 01 December 2010

Structural biology: An alphavirus puzzle solved

Alphaviruses infect their host by binding to cellular receptors and fusing with cell membranes. New studies define the receptor-binding protein of these viruses and its regulation of the membrane-fusion reaction. See Letters p.705 & p.709
- Margaret Kielian
Nature 468, 645-646
Research Highlights | 28 October 2010

Immunotherapy: Alphavirus vector induces immune response in advanced cancers
- Lisa Hutchinson
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 7, 612

All News & Comment

Alphaviruses

Latest Research and Reviews

News and Comment

Search

Quick links