Molecular Medicine Israel

Unveiling the Zika virus

The ongoing Zika virus epidemic is of grave concern because of its apparent links to congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Sirohi et al. present a near-atomic-resolution structure of mature Zika virus determined by cryo-electron microscopy. The structure is mainly similar to that of other flaviviruses such as dengue virus; however, there are differences in a region that may be involved in binding to host receptors. The structure provides a foundation for analysis of the antigenicity and pathogenesis of Zika virus.

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