# Structure determination needs to go viral

## TL;DR

The paper highlights a lack of diverse viral protein structures in databases, urging more structural studies to better prepare for future viral epidemics.

## Contribution

The study reveals a significant gap in the structural representation of viruses in the Protein Data Bank, excluding SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1.

## Key findings

- Less than 50 viral protein structures are deposited per year in the PDB, excluding SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1.
- Viral diversity is poorly represented in structural databases, limiting preparedness for future viral threats.

## Abstract

Viral diseases are expected to cause new epidemics in the future, therefore, it is essential to assess how viral diversity is represented in terms of deposited protein structures. Here, data were collected from the Protein Data Bank to screen the available structures of viruses of interest to WHO. Excluding SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1, less than 50 structures were found per year, indicating a lack of diversity. Efforts to determine viral structures are needed to increase preparedness for future public health challenges.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00726-023-03374-2.