Antibody Binding and Neutralizing Targets within the Predicted Structure of the Poxvirus Multiprotein Entry-Fusion...

The increased incidence of mpox emphasizes a need for new and improved vaccines. Poxviruses rely on a highly conserved but poorly characterized 11-protein entry-fusion complex (EFC), providing numerous potential targets. Here, we demonstrate that antibodies induced by six of 10 EFC proteins are neutralizing. Protein targets of the neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies are located within discrete regions of a model of the EFC predicted by AlphaFold3. Two newly identified targets, A16 and G9, at the apex of the EFC induced cross-neutralizing orthopoxvirus antibodies and protected female mice against a lethal VACV infection. Unexpectedly, antibodies to A16 and G9 were not detected following infection by attenuated or pathogenic VACV, likely due to physical sequestration of the proteins in the viral membrane. Our findings provide a model for the physical, immunogenic and antigenic structure of the EFC, new immunogens for incorporation into recombinant vaccines and suggest a novel poxvirus immune evasion strategy.