Research progress on the structure and function of Zika virus proteins

Abstract:

The largest Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in South America in 2015 raised considerable worldwide health concern, owning to its unexpected link to microcephaly in the newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. The WHO has declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. Currently no vaccines and therapeutics are available. The analysis of the crystal structure of ZIKV and viral proteins will deepen the understanding of viral replication and pathogenesis, which provides important targets for the development of vaccines and drugs. Here, we review the latest advances in research on the structural biology of ZIKV and viral proteins.

Key words:Zika virus, structural protein, non-structural protein, structure