Cryo-EM structure of the mature and infective Mayaro virus at 4.4 Å resolution reveals features of arthritogenic

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice
08:31

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

Published on: July 20, 2022

3.4K

Helder V Ribeiro-Filho1, Lais D Coimbra1, Alexandre Cassago2

  • 1Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Nature Communications
|May 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Researchers revealed the structure of Mayaro virus (MAYV), an emerging arbovirus. This structural insight into MAYV provides a foundation for understanding its disease mechanisms and developing targeted antiviral therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Structural Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging arbovirus in the Americas.
  • MAYV infection can cause a severe arthritogenic disease.
  • The virus's biology is not fully understood, with knowledge often extrapolated from related alphaviruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the high-resolution structure of Mayaro virus (MAYV).
  • To elucidate the structural features and protein interactions of MAYV.
  • To identify potential targets for antiviral interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Cryo-electron microscopy was used to obtain the structure of MAYV virions.
  • Analysis of viral protein organization and interactions.
  • Identification of specific MAYV epitopes and glycosylation sites.

Main Results:

  • The structure of MAYV was determined at 4.4 Å resolution.
  • Typical alphavirus features and organization were observed.
  • Specific interactions, including a hydrophobic pocket between E1 and E2 proteins, MAYV-specific conformational epitopes, and glycosylation sites affecting host receptor binding (MXRA8) and spike-protein interactions, were identified.

Conclusions:

  • The MAYV structure reveals typical alphavirus characteristics and unique features.
  • Identified structural elements, such as glycosylation sites and protein interactions, offer potential targets for MAYV-specific antiviral strategies.
  • This structural information advances the understanding of MAYV pathogenesis and antiviral development.

More Related Videos

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

46.6K
Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo08:29

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

Published on: October 21, 2014

12.4K

Related Concept Videos

Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
3.9K
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
216
Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
69.1K
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
312
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
293
Antibody Structure01:10

Antibody Structure

Overview
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
62.2K