Variola virus antigens (VARV antigens)

Variola virus (VARV) antigens are the protein components of the orthopoxvirus responsible for smallpox, a severe and historically devastating infectious disease characterized by high mortality and systemic skin lesions [10, 13, 19]. These antigens facilitate critical stages of the viral life cycle, including host cell attachment (e.g., A27, D8), membrane fusion (e.g., L1), and the production of extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) for efficient cell-to-cell spread (e.g., A33, B5) [16, 17, 24]. In therapeutic and prophylactic contexts, these proteins serve as the primary targets for vaccines and antivirals [11, 25]. Vaccines like ACAM2000 and JYNNEOS work by inducing antibodies that neutralize these surface antigens, while the drug Tecovirimat specifically targets the p37 protein (F13L) to prevent viral egress [1, 5, 14]. Additionally, the viral DNA polymerase (E9L) is targeted by nucleotide analogs such as Brincidofovir and Cidofovir to halt replication [2, 3, 6]. Because of the ongoing potential for bioterrorism and zoonotic emergence, these antigens remain a central focus for the development of medical countermeasures that can overcome vaccine side effects or viral drug resistance [18, 22].

Other names

Smallpox virus antigensVariola major virus antigensVariola minor virus antigensVARV proteinsOrthopoxvirus antigens

Inhibition of the viral p37 envelope protein to block egress, inhibition of viral DNA polymerase to halt genome replication, and antibody-mediated neutralization of viral entry and spread.