Yellow fever virus envelope protein, domain III (YFV-E-DIII) (YFV-E-DIII)

The Yellow fever virus envelope protein, domain III (YFV-E-DIII) is a critical structural component of the Yellow fever virus, a member of the Flaviviridae family (UniProt P03314). It is the C-terminal domain of the E protein and adopts an immunoglobulin-like fold that is primarily responsible for host cell receptor recognition and attachment (PubMed: 15919924). Because it contains the major neutralizing epitopes, YFV-E-DIII is a primary target for the development of vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (PubMed: 29237835). Binding of antibodies to this domain typically prevents the virus from interacting with its cellular receptors, thereby neutralizing viral infectivity. While the live-attenuated 17D vaccine effectively targets this protein to provide long-term immunity, research continues into recombinant DIII-based vaccines and therapeutic antibodies to manage outbreaks and potential vaccine shortages (PubMed: 31434741). This domain is also a key diagnostic target for detecting virus-specific neutralizing antibodies in patient sera.

Other names

Yellow fever virus E protein domain IIIYFV E-DIIIEnvelope protein domain III of Yellow fever virus

Neutralization of viral infectivity by blocking receptor binding and preventing viral entry into host cells.