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In a landmark discovery, scientists have for the first time described in detail the atomic structure of the influenza virus’s protective protein coat and its interaction with the viral RNA. This achievement, the result of nearly four decades of research, has been hailed as a crucial step forward in the fight against influenza.
The research team, comprised of scientists from the CNRS and l’Université Grenoble Alpes, has provided a detailed map of how the virus’s genome, made up of eight RNA molecules, is tightly bound within a complex protein assembly. This protein structure forms a double helix that encases the viral RNA in a protective coat, making it difficult to manipulate. The team’s findings, published in Nucleic Acids Research, reveal the precise positioning of the RNA molecules within this coat and the nature of the interactions between the two helical strands of proteins.
This breakthrough, made possible through advanced biochemical methods and cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy, offers new hope for developing antiviral drugs aimed at destabilizing the virus’s genome. By targeting the protective protein coat, scientists could design molecules capable of weakening the viral RNA and inhibiting the replication of the influenza virus.
“Understanding the atomic-scale structure of the protective coat is key to developing drugs that can interfere with the virus’s ability to reproduce and spread,” said the lead researcher from the CNRS. “This discovery opens the door to new therapeutic strategies, potentially reducing the impact of influenza, which causes significant illness and death every winter.”
Influenza epidemics affect between 2 and 6 million people in France annually, with approximately 10,000 deaths occurring, especially among vulnerable individuals such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. The virus, a member of the ribovirus family, uses the machinery of infected cells to replicate its RNA and create new viral particles, which then spread to infect more cells.
The discovery, made by the Integrated Structural Biology team in Grenoble (a collaboration between CEA, CNRS, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and Université Grenoble Alpes), is a major step forward in understanding the molecular mechanisms of influenza. The next goal is to translate this knowledge into practical therapies that could help prevent or mitigate future outbreaks.
As the global scientific community continues to grapple with influenza and other viral threats, this study brings hope that the tools to fight these persistent pathogens are within reach.
