The surface glycoproteins of hantaviruses

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses distributed worldwide, transmitted through the air and with the ability to spread from person to person. They maintain a non-symptomatic persistent infection in their rodent hosts, but their spillover to humans produces a renal or pulmonary syndrome associated with high fatality rates. Hantavirus particles are lipid-enveloped and display a characteristic surface lattice built up of tetragonal spikes composed of two glycoproteins, Gn and Gc. The pleomorphism of these particles has hindered cryo-EM efforts to obtain detailed structural information and only by using a combination of X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron tomography it was possible to build an atomic model of the surface lattice. Here we review these structural efforts and the unanticipated evolutionary relations between hantaviruses and alphaviruses highlighted by these studies.

Automated summary

Hantaviruses are globally distributed rodent-borne viruses that can be transmitted through the air and have the ability to spread from person to person. While they maintain a non-symptomatic persistent infection in rodent hosts, their spillover to humans can lead to renal or pulmonary syndrome with high fatality rates. The structure of hantavirus particles, including a characteristic surface lattice built up of glycoproteins Gn and Gc, has been studied using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron tomography, revealing evolutionary relations with alphaviruses.