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Viral Structure

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.

Leaky Scanning

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...

Introduction to Virus

Introduction to Virus

Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...

What are Viruses?

What are Viruses?

Viruses with RNA Genomes

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...

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

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...

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Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

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Flavivirus NS4B protein: Structure, function, and antiviral discovery.

Yan Wang¹, Xuping Xie¹, Pei-Yong Shi²

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

Antiviral Research

|September 30, 2022

Summary

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses like Dengue and Zika cause millions of infections annually. This review highlights the flavivirus NS4B protein as a key target for developing urgently needed antiviral drugs.

Keywords:

Antivirals Drug discovery Flavivirus Nonstructural protein 4B

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Last Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

Analysis of Group IV Viral SSHHPS Using In Vitro and In Silico Methods

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Published on: December 21, 2019

Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus

Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus

Published on: October 11, 2013

Area of Science:

Virology
Infectious Diseases
Drug Discovery

Background:

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses (e.g., Dengue, Zika, West Nile) cause significant global health issues, resulting in up to 400 million infections yearly.
These infections can lead to severe conditions such as fatal hemorrhage, encephalitis, and congenital abnormalities.
No specific antiviral treatments are currently approved for flavivirus infections, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current understanding of flavivirus non-structural protein 4B (NS4B).
To summarize the known structure and functions of NS4B within the flaviviral life cycle.
To present the latest advancements in the development of antiviral compounds targeting NS4B.

Main Methods:

Literature review of scientific publications.
Analysis of structural and functional data for flavivirus NS4B.
Compilation of research on NS4B-targeting antiviral agents.

Main Results:

Flavivirus NS4B is a crucial protein involved in multiple stages of viral replication.
Understanding NS4B's structure and function provides insights into viral pathogenesis.
Several classes of compounds targeting NS4B have shown promise in preclinical studies.

Conclusions:

The flavivirus NS4B protein represents a promising target for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies.
Further research into NS4B structure-activity relationships is essential for optimizing drug design.
Targeting NS4B offers a potential strategy to combat the growing threat of flavivirus infections.