Molecular rationale for antibody-mediated targeting of the hantavirus fusion glycoprotein.

Rissanen, Ilona; Stass, Robert; Krumm, Stefanie A; Seow, Jeffrey; Hulswit, Ruben Jg; Paesen, Guido C; Hepojoki, Jussi; Vapalahti, Olli et al. · Elife · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The intricate lattice of Gn and Gc glycoprotein spike complexes on the hantavirus envelope facilitates host-cell entry and is the primary target of the neutralizing antibody-mediated immune response. Through study of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody termed mAb P-4G2, which neutralizes the zoonotic pathogen Puumala virus (PUUV), we provide a molecular-level basis for antibody-mediated targeting of the hantaviral glycoprotein lattice. Crystallographic analysis demonstrates that P-4G2 binds to a multi-domain site on PUUV Gc and may preclude fusogenic rearrangements of the glycoprotein that are required for host-cell entry. Furthermore, cryo-electron microscopy of PUUV-like particles in the presence of P-4G2 reveals a lattice-independent configuration of the Gc, demonstrating that P-4G2 perturbs the (Gn-Gc)<sub>4</sub> lattice. This work provides a structure-based blueprint for rationalizing antibody-mediated targeting of hantaviruses.

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