Dengue Virus Entry as Target for Antiviral Therapy

Figure 1

Schematic overview of the DENV membrane fusion process (modified figure from Stiasny et al., Amino Acids, 2009 [25]). (a) Prefusion conformation of the E-protein consists of homodimers on the virus surface. (b) Low endosomal pH triggers dissociation of the E-dimers into monomers which leads to the insertion of the fusion peptide with the endosomal target membrane. (c) A stable E-protein trimer is folded in a hairpin-like structure. (d) Hemifusion intermediate in which only the outer leaflets of viral and target cellular membranes have fused. (e) Formation of the postfusion E-trimer and opening of the fusion pore allow the release of the viral RNA into the cytoplasm.