Equine infectious anemia virus capsid protein p26 (p26)

The Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) capsid protein p26 is the primary structural component of the viral core, produced by the proteolytic cleavage of the Gag polyprotein (UniProt: P03346). It assembles into a conical shell that encapsulates the viral RNA genome and essential enzymes, playing a critical role in both the late stages of the viral life cycle, such as assembly and budding, and the early stages, such as uncoating and reverse transcription (PubMed: 11160735). Due to its high conservation among EIAV strains and its strong immunogenicity, p26 is the primary target for diagnostic assays, including the gold-standard Coggins test (agar gel immunodiffusion) and various ELISAs used to identify infected equids (USDA APHIS). While there are currently no approved antiviral drugs targeting p26, it remains a subject of interest for the development of capsid assembly inhibitors, drawing on strategies used for other lentiviruses like HIV-1 (PubMed: 20118268). The protein's stability and ability to self-assemble make it a key focus for understanding lentiviral architecture and host-pathogen interactions.

Other names

EIAV p26Capsid protein CAGag p26p26 antigen

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