The Modis Lab Research

WNV-E J Virol cover_____________________

The head of a male Culex pipiens pipiens mosquito is shown together with an atomic model of West Nile virus. Culex mosquito species are the principal vectors that carry West Nile virus from host to host. The atomic model is based on the crystal structure of the major envelope glycoprotein E. The packing of E molecules on the viral surface is derived from an electron cryomicroscopy image reconstruction of dengue virus type 2 (W. Zhang et al., Nat. Struct. Biol. 10:907-912, 2003). Photograph by Karine Delroux (Yale Medical School).

Ryuta Kanai, Kalipada Kar, Karen Anthony, L. Hannah Gould, Michel Ledizet, Erol Fikrig, Wayne A. Marasco, Ray A. Koski & Yorgo Modis (2006). Crystal structure of West Nile virus envelope glycoprotein reveals viral surface epitopes. J. Virol., 80, 11000-8.