Journal
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Volume 8, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01708-9
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Funding
- DOE Office of Science [DE-SC0012704]
- [5T32AI007519-18]
- [SAF2015-67033-R]
- [P20GM113132]
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Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a frequent cause of bronchiolitis in young children. Its F glycoprotein mediates virus-cell membrane fusion and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies. The inability to produce recombinant hMPV F glycoprotein in the metastable pre-fusion conformation has hindered structural and immunological studies. Here, we engineer a pre-fusion-stabilized hMPV F ectodomain and determine its crystal structure to 2.6 angstrom resolution. This structure reveals molecular determinants of strain-dependent acid-induced fusion, as well as insights into refolding from pre- to post-fusion conformations. A dense glycan shield at the apex of pre- fusion hMPV F suggests that antibodies against this site may not be elicited by host immune responses, which is confirmed by depletion studies of human immunoglobulins and by mouse immunizations. This is a major difference with pre-fusion F from human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), and collectively our results should facilitate development of effective hMPV vaccine candidates.
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