Tai Forest ebolavirus nucleoprotein (NP)

The Tai Forest ebolavirus nucleoprotein (NP) is a critical structural component of the viral nucleocapsid, responsible for encapsidating the negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome. This encapsulation protects the viral RNA from host cell nucleases and serves as the essential template for both transcription and replication by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex (UniProt, P35265). Beyond its structural role, NP interacts with other viral proteins such as VP35 and VP30 to regulate the switch between genome replication and mRNA transcription (PubMed, PMC4251955). In the context of disease, NP is a primary driver of the Ebola virus life cycle within the host, making it a significant target for diagnostic assays and therapeutic intervention. While most current clinical treatments for Ebola virus disease focus on the surface glycoprotein, NP is highly conserved across ebolavirus species, making it an attractive target for pan-ebolavirus small molecule inhibitors and siRNA-based therapies (PubMed, PMC7120471). Experimental drugs like Remdesivir and Favipiravir indirectly interact with the replication machinery supported by NP, while novel research focuses on disrupting the NP-VP35 interaction to halt viral assembly. Its high expression levels during infection also make it the gold-standard biomarker for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Other names

NucleoproteinTAFV NPCôte d'Ivoire ebolavirus nucleoproteinNucleocapsid protein

Inhibition of the viral polymerase complex and disruption of nucleocapsid assembly to prevent viral RNA synthesis.