Western equine encephalitis virus E2-E1 spike protein complex (WEEV E2-E1)

The Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) E2-E1 spike protein complex is the primary surface component of the WEEV virion, an alphavirus responsible for severe encephalitis in humans and equines (CDC, 2023). This complex is composed of E2 and E1 glycoproteins that form heterodimers, which further organize into 80 trimeric spikes on the viral envelope (UniProt P03317; PubMed: 32103000). The E2 protein facilitates viral attachment by binding to host cell receptors, while the E1 protein acts as a class II fusion protein, mediating the fusion of the viral envelope with the host endosomal membrane upon acidification (PubMed: 25605362). As the principal target for neutralizing antibodies, the E2-E1 complex is the focus of vaccine development and therapeutic antibody research (PubMed: 31413125). Currently, there are no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines for human use, making this complex a critical target for preventing WEEV infection and its associated neurological complications.

Other names

WEEV glycoprotein complexWEEV E1/E2 heterodimerWestern equine encephalitis virus envelope proteinsWEEV spike protein

Neutralization of viral infectivity by blocking receptor binding or preventing the pH-triggered conformational change required for membrane fusion (PubMed: 32103000).