About this Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article

New Insights into Measles Virus Brain Infections by Shumpei Watanabe; Yuta Shirogane; Yuma Sato; Takao Hashiguchi; Yusuke Yanagi is a Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article available to read on EtoBox.

Measles virus (MeV) may persist in the brain, causing fatal neurodegenerative diseases, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and measles inclusion-body encephalitis. However, the mechanism of MeV propagation in the brain remains unexplained because human neurons affected by the diseases do not express the known receptors for MeV. Recent studies have revealed that certain changes in the ectodomain of the MeV fusion (F) protein play a key role in MeV spread in the brain. These changes destabilize the prefusion form of the F protein and render it hyperfusogenic, which in turn allows the virus to propagate in neurons. Based on crystal structures of the F protein, effective fusion inhibitors could be developed to treat these diseases. MeV Infections in the Brain MeV is a highly contagious human pathogen . Although the use of effective live vaccines has greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality, measles still claims $100 000 lives a year worldwide, and occasional outbreaks occur even in industrialized countries . Specific antiviral agents are not currently available. While MeV usually causes self-limiting acute infection with symptoms such as fever, cough, and skin rash, it may persist

Author

Shumpei Watanabe; Yuta Shirogane; Yuma Sato; Takao Hashiguchi; Yusuke Yanagi

Publisher

Elsevier Science; Elsevier ; Elsevier BV (ISSN 0966-842X)

Published

2018

Language

EN

Field

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)