Characterization of a glycoprotein entry complex from a novel orthomyxovirus by cryo-electron tomography

Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) causes severe anemia in salmon and has mortality rates that approach 100%. Over the last 30 years, ISAV has caused major disease outbreaks in farmed salmon in Canada, the US, and Chile. In 2012, a confirmed outbreak in Newfoundland prompted the destruction of 450,000 farmed salmon. The virus has caused major economic losses and is a threat to the viability of Canadian salmon farming. ISAV virions have two surface glycoproteins (GPs): a 42-kDa hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) that is responsible for attachment, tropism, and receptor destruction/release and a 50-kDa fusion (F) GP that is involved in the merger of the host and viral lipid bilayers. We previously determined the crystal structures of ISAV HE (Cook et al. 2017 PNAS) and the postfusion ISAV F (Cook
et al. 2015 JBC). This work provides initial snapshots of the individual GPs involved in ISAV entry. The molecular events after initial attachment that lead to fusion and entry of the virus remain poorly defined. Using cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), we will determine the interplay of ISAV HE and F. In Canada, there are very few centres capable of performing high resolution cryo-ET reconstructions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jefferey E. Lee

Student:

Partner:

Utrecht University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Agriculture and Food

University:

University of Toronto

Program: