Herpes simplex virus fusion protein complex (HSV fusion complex)

The Herpes simplex virus (HSV) fusion protein complex is a sophisticated molecular machine required for the virus to penetrate host cell membranes (UniProt P06437, P06476). It is composed of four essential glycoproteins: gD, which recognizes host receptors; gB, the primary fusogen; and the gH/gL heterodimer, which acts as a regulator of gB activity (PubMed: 20660770). Entry is initiated when gD binds to receptors like nectin-1 or HVEM, triggering a cascade of conformational changes through gH/gL to gB, ultimately leading to the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane (PubMed: 23901111). Because this complex is indispensable for both initial infection and cell-to-cell spread, it represents a primary target for antiviral drug development and vaccine design. Therapeutic interventions, such as docosanol or neutralizing antibodies, aim to disrupt these protein-protein interactions or stabilize the proteins in their pre-fusion states to prevent viral entry (PubChem CID 12620).

Other names

HSV entry glycoproteinsgB/gD/gH/gL complexHerpesvirus fusion machineryHSV-1/2 fusion complex

Inhibition of viral-cell membrane fusion by blocking receptor binding or preventing the conformational changes of glycoproteins gB, gD, or the gH/gL complex.