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Updated: May 29, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
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Published on: October 29, 2015

Cell entry of enveloped viruses.

Richard K Plemper1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rplempe@emory.edu

Current Opinion in Virology
|September 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Viral fusion proteins mediate enveloped virus entry by merging viral and cell membranes. This process, essential for infection, involves conserved refolding mechanisms across diverse viral families like paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, and rhabdoviruses.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Enveloped viruses infect cells by fusing their lipid envelope with host cell membranes.
  • This membrane fusion process creates fusion pores for viral genome release.
  • Viral fusion is an energy-dependent process mediated by viral envelope glycoproteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the fundamental principles of viral membrane fusion common to all enveloped viruses.
  • To discuss the specific structural and functional characteristics of different viral fusion protein classes.
  • To illustrate these features using examples from paramyxovirus, flavivirus, and rhabdovirus families.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on viral fusion mechanisms.

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  • Comparative analysis of structural and mechanistic properties of viral fusion proteins.
  • Case studies focusing on paramyxovirus, flavivirus, and rhabdovirus fusion proteins.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified three distinct classes of viral fusion proteins based on structural and mechanistic properties.
    • Highlighted universally conserved principles in viral membrane fusion, including simultaneous membrane engagement and refolding into hairpin-like structures.
    • Detailed the specific features of fusion proteins from paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, and rhabdoviruses.

    Conclusions:

    • Viral membrane fusion is a complex, conserved process critical for enveloped virus infection.
    • Despite diversity, common mechanistic principles govern fusion protein function across different viral families.
    • Understanding these principles aids in developing antiviral strategies targeting viral entry.