Role of Zika Virus prM Protein in Viral Pathogenicity and Use in Vaccine Development

Peter Nambala; Wen-Chi Su; Wen-Chi Su

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.01797

Frontiers in Microbiology (Aug 2018)

Role of Zika Virus prM Protein in Viral Pathogenicity and Use in Vaccine Development

Peter Nambala,
Wen-Chi Su,
Wen-Chi Su

Affiliations

Peter Nambala: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Wen-Chi Su: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Wen-Chi Su: Research Center for Emerging Viruses, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01797
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9

Abstract

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Recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemics necessitate the urgent development of effective drugs and vaccines, which can be accelerated by an enhanced understanding of ZIKV biology. One of the ZIKV structural proteins, precursor membrane (prM), plays an important role in the assembly of mature virions through cleavage of prM into M protein. Recent studies have suggested that prM protein might be implicated in the neurovirulence of ZIKV. Most vaccines targeting ZIKV include prM as the immunogen. Here, we review progress in our understanding of ZIKV prM protein and its application in ZIKV vaccine development.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

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