UQ researchers capture first high-resolution images of the yellow fever virus

Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) have successfully captured the first high-resolution images of the yellow fever virus (YFV), which is transmitted by mosquitoes and primarily affects the liver. This research identifies structural differences between the vaccine strain (YFV-17D) and virulent strains of the virus.

Dr. Summa Bibby, from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, stated that this marks the first time a complete 3D structure of a fully mature yellow fever virus particle has been documented at near-atomic resolution. Utilizing the Binjari virus platform, the team combined structural genes of yellow fever with the harmless Binjari virus, allowing for safe examination under a cryo-electron microscope.

The findings reveal that the vaccine strain has a smooth surface, while the virulent strain exhibits a bumpy, uneven texture. These structural differences affect how the immune system recognizes the virus, with the virulent strain’s irregular surface exposing certain parts of the virus that facilitate antibody attachment.

Yellow fever remains a significant public health issue in parts of South America and Africa, with vaccination being the main preventive measure due to the absence of approved antiviral treatments. Professor Daniel Watterson emphasized that these insights could lead to advances in vaccine design and antiviral strategies for yellow fever and related viruses such as dengue and Zika. The research findings were published in Nature Communications.