Canine parvovirus type 2 Capsid protein VP2 (CPV-2 VP2)

The Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) VP2 protein is the primary structural component of the non-enveloped icosahedral viral capsid, accounting for approximately 90% of the total protein mass. It plays a fundamental role in the viral life cycle by mediating high-affinity binding to the host transferrin receptor type 1 (TfR1), which is the critical step for viral endocytosis and determines host range and tissue tropism (UniProt: P12910; PMID: 10601332). The VP2 protein is highly immunodominant and contains several major neutralizing epitopes, particularly located on the 'spikes' or protrusions of the capsid surface, making it the central target for the development of diagnostics, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines (PMID: 25720415). In clinical veterinary medicine, VP2 is the primary antigen used in both live-attenuated and recombinant subunit vaccines to induce protective immunity against parvoviral enteritis. Mutations within the VP2 gene are responsible for the emergence of various antigenic variants, such as CPV-2a, 2b, and 2c, which are characterized by specific amino acid substitutions (notably at residue 426) that can affect antibody neutralization and diagnostic detection (PMID: 22210217). Therapeutic strategies focusing on VP2 include the use of passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies or hyperimmune serum to neutralize circulating virus during acute infection (PMID: 30335327).

Other names

Major capsid protein VP2VP2 structural proteinCPV VP2Viral protein 2

Neutralization of viral infectivity by blocking the interaction between the viral capsid and the host cell transferrin receptor (TfR), thereby preventing viral entry and subsequent replication.