Mouse Anti-Nipah Virus Fusion Protein Site I Monoclonal Antibody

The nipah virus fusion protein F2 chain, also known as the F protein, contains a specific cleavage site known as site I, which is crucial for its activation and function. This site is recognized and cleaved by host cell proteases, leading to the separation of the F0 precursor into two disulfide-linked subunits, F1 and F2. The cleavage at site I is a critical step in the maturation of the F protein, enabling it to mediate the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. Site I is a potential target for antiviral intervention because its disruption could prevent the F protein from undergoing the necessary cleavage to become active. Inhibiting the cleavage at this site could impair the virus's ability to fuse with host cells, thereby blocking viral entry and infection. The development of small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies that target site I could provide a novel therapeutic approach to combat nipah virus infections.