Influence of the pre-membrane and envelope proteins on structure, pathogenicity, and tropism of tick-borne encephalitis virus
Although an effective vaccine exists, there is no treatment for those infected by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). This study aimed to better understand how the virus's surface proteins influence viral tropism and pathogenicity. We created a chimeric virus with prM and E proteins of TBEV in the genetic background of the low-pathogenic Langat virus (LGTV). The chimeric virus remained low pathogenic, similar to LGTV. Both viruses infected similar brain regions, while TBEV showed a strong preference for the cerebellum and Purkinje cells. This means that other parts of the virus, such as non-structural proteins or NCR, likely decide how the virus behaves in the brain. This study also presents the first cryogenic electron microscopy structure of LGTV, the first whole-brain imaging of TBEV infection in mouse brain, and a new model system to study surface proteins in tick-borne flaviviruses-laying groundwork for future studies on viral tropism, antibody cross-reactivity, and virus-receptor interaction.
Authors
- Emma Nilsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8123-3292)
- Kyrylo Bisikalo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7492-1959)
- Maria Anastasina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4555-6446)
- Rickard Nordén (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3866-7228)
- Jiří Holoubek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7850-7723)
- Sarah J. Butcher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7060-5871)
- Anna K. Överby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6553-0940)
- Marie Lindgren
- Ekaterina Mirgorodskaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4519-6567)
- Andres Merits (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0071)
- Federico Morini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9358-070X)
- Ebba Rosendal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8512-0535)
- Stefanie M. A. Willekens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3445-7829)
- Ulf Ahlgren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-8572)
- Amanda Lappalainen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6712-5348)
- Daniel Růžek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4655-2380)
- Pavel Svoboda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2180-3174)
- William Rosenbaum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2274-7343)
- Ebba Könighofer
Institutions
- University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (CZ)
- National Academy of Medicine (US)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (JP)
- Masaryk University (CZ)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- University of Veterinary Science (MM)
- Bioscience Research (US)
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology (CZ)
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
- Institute of Life Sciences (IN)
- Ecologie microbienne (FR)
- University of Tartu (EE)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Umeå University (SE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Virology
- Published
- 2025-08-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.00870-25
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.51
Funders
- Helsingin Yliopisto
- Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia
- Kempe Foundation
- Grantová Agentura České Republiky
- Eesti Teadusagentuur
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Umeå Universitet
- Göteborgs Universitet
- Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö
- Kempestiftelserna
- Science for Life Laboratory
- Biocenter Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Helsingin Yliopisto
- Sahlgrenska Akademin