EEEV E2

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus with a high case mortality rate in humans. EEEV is a biodefense concern because of its potential for aerosol spread and the lack of existing countermeasures. The E2 glycoprotein projects from the viral surface and is comprised of three domains: A, B, and C11,12. Binding of EEEV E2 to poorly characterized host receptors is believed to initiate entry and endocytosis13. The acidic environment of the endosome induces conformational changes in the alphavirus E1 and E2 glycoproteins, which allow for the exposure of the fusion loop, insertion into the host membrane11, and nucleocapsid escape into the cytoplasm.