Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major causes of common colds in humans. They have a nonenveloped, icosahedral capsid surrounding a positive-strand RNA genome. Here we report that the antigen-binding (Fab) fragment of a neutralizing antibody (C5) can trigger genome release from RV-B14 to form emptied particles and neutralize virus infection. Using cryo-electron microscopy, structures of the C5 Fab in complex with the full and emptied particles have been determined at 2.3 Å and 3.0 Å resolution, respectively. Each of the 60 Fab molecules binds primarily to a region on viral protein 3 (VP3). Binding of the C5 Fabs to RV-B14 results in significant conformational changes around holes in the capsid through which the viral RNA might exit. These results are so far the highest resolution view of an antibody-virus complex and elucidate a mechanism whereby antibodies neutralize RVs and related viruses by inducing virus uncoating.
Keywords: antibody; atomic structure; cryo-electron microscopy; genome release; rhinovirus.