Vaccinia virus intracellular mature virion (IMV) (IMV)

The intracellular mature virion (IMV) is the primary infectious form of vaccinia virus, a poxvirus, characterized by a single lipid bilayer membrane with an asymmetric protein coat, enclosing a biconcave core containing the viral DNA genome and structural proteins such as A10, A4, A3, and L4. IMV forms from spherical immature virions (IV) through maturation steps including proteolysis, within cytoplasmic virus factories, and features surface proteins like A27L, D8L, H3L, A26L, A17L, A14L, and A13L involved in cell binding to glycosaminoglycans and laminin. Entry into host cells occurs at the plasma membrane via actin-dependent signaling involving rac1, rhoA, ezrin, tyrosine and PKC phosphorylation, delivering the uncoated core into the cytoplasm; IMV is less efficient than extracellular enveloped virus (EEV).

Other names

intracellular mature vaccinia virusmature virion