Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41353198›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Structural insights into VLDLR recognition by western equine encephalitis virus.

Shengjian Liang, Zhili Xu, Xiaoke Liu, Yan Yang, Lixin Zhao, Chuyu Hu, Jichao Hou, Zhenyu Wei, Yan Zhang, Donghan Li and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Shengjian Liang *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. liangsj22@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7305-4064
Zhili Xu *Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Xiaoke Liu *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Yan Yang *Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Lixin ZhaoKey Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Chuyu HuDivision of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Jichao HouSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Zhenyu WeiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Yan ZhangSchool of Public Health, Beihua University, Jilin, China.
Donghan LiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jinwei YangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jiayi ZhangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Jundong BiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Yanyi WangKey Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China. wangyy@wh.iov.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9316-2417
Zhiyong LouSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. louzy@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2728-881X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), a group of encephalitic alphaviruses that cause severe diseases in humans and equids, historically used the very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) as a receptor during infection. However, current epidemic strains no longer use VLDLR as a receptor. In this study, we identify that LA1, LA2, LA3, and LA5 of VLDLR can directly interact with WEEV. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we investigate the structures of complexes formed between WEEV and VLDLR-LBD or other VLDLR fragments. Our findings show that LA1 and LA2 insert into a cleft formed by two adjacent E2-E1 heterodimers within a single trimeric spike, while LA3 and LA5 interact with the DIII region of WEEV E1. Among VLDLR concatemers, the LA1-5 exhibits the strongest binding affinity for WEEV. Additionally, we find that a single polymorphism in the E2 glycoprotein determines WEEV's receptor tropism. Mutations

Indexed as

Encephalitis Virus, Western EquineReceptors, LDLReceptors, VirusAnimalsCryoelectron MicroscopyEncephalomyelitis, EquineHEK293 CellsHorsesHumansModels, MolecularMutationProtein BindingViral Envelope ProteinsReceptors, LDLReceptors, VirusViral Envelope ProteinsVLDL receptor

Identifiers

PMID41353198
PMCPMC12800238

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.