Powassan virus envelope protein (POWV E)

The Powassan virus envelope (E) protein is the primary surface glycoprotein of the Powassan virus (POWV), a tick-borne member of the Flaviviridae family (UniProt: P0B8Q5). It is a class II viral fusion protein that exists as a homodimer on the mature virion surface and is responsible for mediating host cell attachment and pH-dependent membrane fusion within endosomes (PubMed: 28834819). POWV is a significant public health concern in North America, causing severe neuroinvasive diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis with high morbidity and mortality rates (CDC, 2023). As the major target for neutralizing antibodies, the E protein is the focal point for the development of diagnostic assays, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies like 10B11, and vaccine candidates including mRNA-1754 (PubMed: 35108125, PubMed: 31434745). Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral therapies targeting this protein, making it a high-priority target for infectious disease research (NIH, 2023).

Other names

Envelope proteinE proteinPOWV E proteinPowassan virus glycoprotein E

Neutralization of viral entry by binding to the E protein surface, thereby blocking attachment to host receptors or inhibiting the pH-triggered conformational changes required for membrane fusion (PubMed: 31434745).