Poliovirus type 1 Sabin strain capsid (PV1 Sabin capsid)

The Poliovirus type 1 Sabin strain capsid is the proteinaceous shell of the attenuated virus used in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). It is composed of 60 copies each of four structural proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4) arranged in an icosahedral lattice, which protects the viral RNA genome and facilitates host cell entry by binding to the CD155 receptor (Source: UniProt, P03300). The Sabin 1 strain is specifically derived from the Mahoney strain and contains attenuating mutations, primarily in the 5' untranslated region and the capsid proteins, which reduce its ability to infect the central nervous system (Source: PubMed, PMID: 16439533). In drug development, the capsid is a primary target for 'WIN' compounds and other capsid inhibitors like Pocapavir, which occupy a hydrophobic pocket in VP1 to prevent viral uncoating (Source: PubMed, PMID: 25183723). While highly effective for immunization, the Sabin capsid is subject to genetic drift, which can lead to the restoration of neurovirulence and the emergence of vaccine-derived polioviruses (Source: CDC, Polio Vaccine Information).

Other names

Poliovirus type 1 structural proteinPV1 Sabin coat proteinPoliovirus type 1 (Sabin) P1 polyproteinSabin 1 capsid

Capsid inhibitors bind to a hydrophobic pocket within the VP1 structural protein, which stabilizes the capsid and prevents the conformational changes required for viral uncoating and the release of viral RNA into the host cell (Source: PubMed, PMID: 15596810).