Viral membrane fusion process

Viral membrane fusion process is the stepwise merging of the viral envelope with a host cell membrane, permitting entry of the viral genome into the cytoplasm and initiating infection. This process is mediated by dedicated viral fusion proteins (glycoproteins embedded in the viral envelope), which undergo conformational rearrangements to catalyze fusion of the lipid bilayers. The mechanism, fundamental to all enveloped viruses, involves the engagement of a fusion peptide or fusion loop with the host membrane, followed by collapse of the fusion protein trimer to juxtapose viral and cellular membranes. This process is tightly regulated, can occur via various structural classes of fusion proteins (class I, II, III), and is an essential target for antiviral drug and vaccine development.

Other names

Viral fusionVirus-cell membrane fusionVirus-host fusion