Novel Fusion Mechanism — A study led by Dr. Margaret Kielian, published in the December 4, 2014, online issue of PLoS Pathogens, describes the unique way that the rubella virus (RuV) infects cells. RuV infection causes German measles, which in pregnant women can lead to fetal death, miscarriage or severe birth defects. Although vaccination has greatly reduced Rubella cases in the developed world, the disease remains prevalent in developing countries and in other under-vaccinated populations. Infection occurs when RuV’s membrane envelope fuses with the membrane of its target cell. Dr. Kielian’s team showed that fusion and infection by RuV can only occur if calcium is bound by the RuV fusion protein, RuV E1. Removing calcium prevented RuV E1 from interacting with target cell membranes, and replacing calcium with other metal ions also prevented fusion. This is the first known case of a calcium-dependent viral fusion mechanism, according to the researchers. Dr. Kielian is professor of cell biology and the Samuel H. Golding Chair in Microbiology.
Posted on: Thursday, December 18, 2014