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PUUV NP
PUUV NP Full Name
Hantavirus Puumala Virus NUCLEOCAPSID
PUUV NP Introduction
Puumala virus (PUUV) nucleoprotein (NP) is a 433-amino acid (approximately 48 kDa) protein encoded by the S segment of PUUV, the most common hantavirus in Europe and the causative agent of nephropathia epidemica (NE). PUUV NP shares the conserved three-domain architecture characteristic of all hantavirus nucleoproteins: an N-terminal RNA-binding core domain with a deep positively charged cleft, a central helical oligomerization domain, and a flexible C-terminal domain involved in higher-order assembly and antigenic variability. PUUV NP binds viral genomic RNA with high affinity and cooperativity, encapsidating the three negative-sense RNA genome segments into separate ribonucleocapsid filaments that serve as templates for transcription by the viral RdRp. PUUV NP shares approximately 60–65% amino acid identity with HTNV and DOBV nucleoproteins and is highly conserved among PUUV strains across its European geographic range. The protein is abundantly expressed in infected cells, localizing to both the cytoplasm and, transiently, the nucleus during early infection.
Figure 1. Comprehensive computational analysis reveals YXXΦ[I/L/M/F/V] motif and YXXΦ-like tetrapeptides across HFRS causing Hantaviruses and their association with viral pathogenesis and host immu...
PUUV NP performs multiple functions essential for the viral replication cycle and pathogenesis. In addition to RNA encapsidation, NP is required for RdRp recruitment and promoter recognition through direct interaction with the panhandle structures at the termini of each genome segment. NP concentration regulates the switch from transcription to replication of the viral genome. PUUV NP is a potent antagonist of the host innate immune system; it sequesters viral dsRNA intermediates from RIG-I and MDA5 sensors, suppresses IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and inhibits interferon-β promoter activation. The NP has also been shown to interact with cellular DExD/H-box helicases and components of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Immunologically, PUUV NP is the dominant antigen recognized during natural infection, eliciting strong IgM and IgG antibody responses detectable within the first week of symptoms. Multiple CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes have been mapped across the PUUV NP sequence, with the central and C-terminal regions harboring immunodominant HLA-restricted epitopes that are critical for viral clearance and the generation of long-term cellular immunity in convalescent patients.
PUUV NP is the gold standard antigen for serological diagnosis of nephropathia epidemica and broader HFRS surveillance across Europe. Recombinant PUUV NP produced in E. coli and baculovirus expression systems is widely employed in commercial IgM capture and IgG ELISA kits, immunofluorescence assays (IFA), and rapid immunochromatographic point-of-care tests. The broad cross-reactivity of PUUV NP with other Old World hantavirus NPs enables pan-hantavirus screening, while species-specific diagnosis requires glycoprotein-based neutralization assays. In vaccine research, PUUV NP has been evaluated as a DNA vaccine component and as part of recombinant adenovirus and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector vaccines, where it contributes protective T cell-mediated immunity. NP-based T cell epitope mapping studies have identified conserved peptides that could inform the design of universal hantavirus T cell vaccines. Additionally, PUUV NP is a key reagent in epidemiological surveillance of bank vole populations, enabling monitoring of PUUV circulation dynamics that inform public health risk assessments. Recombinant NP is also used for production of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for research and diagnostic applications.
Alternate Names for PUUV NP
Rift Valley Fever Virus (IN); RVF virus; RVFV; Group V; Bunyaviridae; Phlebovirus; Rift Valley Fever virus; Rift Valley Fever Virus (CT);
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