For the first time, researchers have mapped the atomic structure of the protective coat surrounding the influenza virus genome, a discovery that could lead to groundbreaking antiviral treatments.
The study, published in Nucleic Acids Research, reveals new details about how the virus safeguards its genetic material—knowledge scientists have been seeking for nearly 40 years.
A Closer Look at Influenza’s Genetic Shield
Influenza is an RNA virus, meaning its genetic blueprint consists of RNA molecules rather than DNA. These eight RNA molecules are tightly wrapped in a protective protein coat, forming a helical structure that is notoriously difficult to manipulate. This structure is key to the virus’s ability to replicate inside human cells and spread infection.
Scientists from CNRS and the Université Grenoble Alpes have visualized this structure in unprecedented detail using state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy. Their findings provide crucial insights into how the RNA strands interact with the proteins encasing them, revealing precise molecular positioning and binding mechanisms.
Unlocking New Avenues for Antiviral Drug Development
This breakthrough opens the door to designing drugs that can destabilize the virus by targeting its protective coat. By weakening the structural integrity of the RNA-protein complex, new therapies could inhibit viral replication, preventing the influenza virus from spreading.
“Understanding the molecular architecture of the influenza virus genome at an atomic scale is a major step toward the development of new antiviral strategies,” said the research team from the Institut de Biologie Structurale in Grenoble.
The Potential Impact on Influenza Virus Treatment
Influenza affects millions of people every year, with severe outbreaks causing up to 10,000 deaths annually in France alone, according to the Institut Pasteur. Current antiviral treatments primarily target viral enzymes or block the virus’s ability to enter cells. However, this new approach—disrupting the virus’s genome stability—offers an entirely different strategy, one that could be more effective in combating drug-resistant flu strains.
With this new structural knowledge, scientists are now poised to develop compounds that bind directly to the influenza virus’s protective coat, potentially offering a powerful new line of defense against seasonal flu and future pandemics.
Reference: Florian Chenavier, Eleftherios Zarkadas, Lily-Lorette Freslon, Alice J Stelfox, Guy Schoehn, Rob W H Ruigrok, Allison Ballandras-Colas, Thibaut Crépin. Influenza a virus antiparallel helical nucleocapsid-like pseudo-atomic structure. Nucleic Acids Research, 2024.
