Fig. 1: A chimeric platform for high-resolution structure determination of flaviviruses particles by cryo-EM. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: A chimeric platform for high-resolution structure determination of flaviviruses particles by cryo-EM.

From: A unified route for flavivirus structures uncovers essential pocket factors conserved across pathogenic viruses

Fig. 1

a Structural genes encoding prM and E proteins from a vertebrate-infecting flavivirus (VIF) are used to replace the homologous genes of the ISF, BinJV, via circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) methodology. b CPER product is transfected into insect cells to produce a chimeric virus that encodes the replicative machinery of the ISF, but the structural components of the VIF. c Safety and ease-of-use is ensured as the chimeric virus cannot replicate in vertebrate cells. d Chimeric virus production is scaled up and virions purified for TEM analysis. e Cryo-EM imaging is performed on vitrified virus particles. Scale bar indicates 50 nm. f Single-particle analysis is used to generate high-resolution virion electron density maps, allowing de novo structure elucidation at the atomic scale to inform rational design of new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

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