Interaction of West Nile virus NS5 with orthoflavivirus SLA RNAs and their effects on viral replication and inhibition.

ABSTRACT: West Nile virus (WNV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus in the Orthoflavivirus genus, within Flaviviridae. The genus encompasses numerous pathogens of public health importance, including WNV, dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Orthoflavivirus replication depends on the presence of the stem-loop A (SLA) structure in the 5' untranslated region of the genome. The viral polymerase, NS5, interacts with the SLA and initiates synthesis of the negative-strand RNA. The sequences and secondary structures of SLA and NS5 are highly conserved across orthoflaviviruses, suggesting that the viruses utilize a similar SLA-mediated replication mechanism. Here, we determined the molecular shapes of WNV and JEV SLAs and investigated WNV NS5

SUBMITTER: Feinberg MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12455937 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature