Poliovirus (PV) (PV)

Poliovirus is a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family (StatPearls: Poliomyelitis, 2023). It is the causative agent of poliomyelitis, an infectious disease that can lead to irreversible muscle paralysis by destroying motor neurons in the spinal cord (WHO: Poliomyelitis, 2023). The virus exists as three distinct serotypes (1, 2, and 3), and its primary mode of infection involves binding to the human CD155 receptor on host cells to initiate entry (UniProt: P03300). Therapeutic intervention primarily relies on immunization with Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) or Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV), which elicit neutralizing antibodies that target the viral capsid to prevent infection (CDC: Polio Vaccination, 2023). These antibodies bind to specific antigenic sites on the capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3, sterically hindering the virus's ability to attach to the host cell receptor (PubMed: 24744502). While wild-type poliovirus is nearing global eradication, the management of vaccine-derived strains and the development of capsid-inhibiting antivirals like Pocapavir remain critical for complete disease control (PubMed: 25332331). Safety concerns include the rare risk of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis and the emergence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses in under-vaccinated populations (WHO: Poliomyelitis, 2023).

Other names

Wild-type poliovirusWPVEnterovirus CPoliomyelitis virus

Vaccines induce the production of neutralizing antibodies that bind to the viral capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, and VP3), sterically blocking the interaction between the virus and the host cell receptor CD155, thereby preventing viral attachment and entry (StatPearls: Poliomyelitis, 2023; WHO: Poliomyelitis, 2023).