Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus capsid protein VP60 (VP60)

The Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) capsid protein VP60 is the primary structural protein of the virus, forming an icosahedral shell that protects the viral genome [4, 11]. It plays a critical role in the viral life cycle by mediating attachment to host cells through interactions with histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), which triggers viral entry via endocytosis [4, 11]. As the most prominent surface protein, VP60 is the major target for the host's immune response and is the central component of most RHDV vaccines, including inactivated, recombinant, and virus-like particle (VLP) formulations [2, 3, 5]. These vaccines function by inducing neutralizing antibodies that block the protein's ability to bind to host receptors, thereby preventing infection [10, 16]. VP60 is also essential for diagnostic applications, serving as a key antigen in serological assays and a target for molecular detection of the virus in clinical samples [1, 10].

Other names

Major capsid protein VP60 [1, 9]VP1 [14, 15]Capsid structural protein VP60 [6, 14]L1-like protein [4]

Induction of neutralizing antibodies that block viral attachment to host histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and prevent viral entry into host cells [10, 16].