Atomic structures of Coxsackievirus A6 and its complex with a neutralizing antibody

Nat Commun. 2017 Sep 11;8(1):505. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00477-9.

Abstract

Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) has recently emerged as a major cause of hand, foot and mouth disease in children worldwide but no vaccine is available against CVA6 infections. Here, we demonstrate the isolation of two forms of stable CVA6 particles-procapsid and A-particle-with excellent biochemical stability and natural antigenicity to serve as vaccine candidates. Despite the presence (in A-particle) or absence (in procapsid) of capsid-RNA interactions, the two CVA6 particles have essentially identical atomic capsid structures resembling the uncoating intermediates of other enteroviruses. Our near-atomic resolution structure of CVA6 A-particle complexed with a neutralizing antibody maps an immune-dominant neutralizing epitope to the surface loops of VP1. The structure-guided cell-based inhibition studies further demonstrate that these loops could serve as excellent targets for designing anti-CVA6 vaccines.Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) causes hand, foot and mouth disease in children. Here the authors present the CVA6 procapsid and A-particle cryo-EM structures and identify an immune-dominant neutralizing epitope, which can be exploited for vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / chemistry*
  • Capsid / chemistry
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy / methods*
  • Enterovirus A, Human / chemistry*
  • Enterovirus A, Human / immunology
  • Enterovirus A, Human / pathogenicity
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Mice
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Vaccines / chemistry
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Epitopes
  • Viral Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines