Computational modelling of the equine arteritis virus GP5/M Dimer: Implications for immune evasion and virulence

TL;DR

This study uses computational modeling to understand the structure of a key protein in equine arteritis virus, revealing how it helps the virus evade the immune system and cause disease.

Contribution

The paper presents the first 3D structure prediction of the EAV GP5/M dimer using AlphaFold3, revealing structural features linked to immune evasion and virulence.

Findings

The EAV GP5/M dimer has a longer ectodomain with variable regions that contain neutralizing epitopes.

Conserved transmembrane domains suggest structural similarities between EAV and PRRSV.

N-glycosylation sites and membrane-proximal epitopes are linked to immune evasion and virulence.

Abstract

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus of the Arteriviridae family. Its GP5/M dimer, the principal component of the viral envelope, mediates virus budding and serves as a key target for neutralizing antibodies. Using AlphaFold3, we predicted the 3D structure of the EAV GP5/M dimer and compared it to its homolog in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Both complexes share a conserved architecture comprising a short ectodomain, three helical transmembrane regions, and a β-sheet-rich endodomain. EAV GP5 features a longer ectodomain with four α-helices and a disulfide-linked β-sheet, which forms the most variable and surface-exposed region containing neutralizing epitopes. Adjacent conserved and variable N-glycosylation sites suggest immune evasion mechanisms involving antigenic drift and glycan shielding. Another epitope, located in a membrane-proximal helix, overlaps with known virulence and persistence determinants. The transmembrane domains are the most structurally conserved regions between EAV and PRRSV, characterized by tilted and kinked helices stabilized by hydrophilic interactions within the lipid bilayer. These findings provide molecular insights into the structural organization, immune targets, and virulence-associated features of the GP5/M dimer, offering a foundation for rational vaccine design against EAV.

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