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Broad and potent neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants can be efficiently identified via accurate deep-mutational-scanning-based prediction of viral evolution and delivered to mice using mRNA–lipid nanoparticles.

So far no vaccine or antiviral therapy is available for Echovirus 30 (E30) that causes aseptic meningitis. Here, the authors generate and characterise two E30-specific monoclonal antibodies that block binding of the virus to its attachment receptor CD55 and uncoating receptor FcRn, and determine the cryo-EM structures of E30 with the bound neutralizing antibodies.

There are more than 2,100 known plant virus species. This work presents full-length three-dimensional structures of a plant virus’s replication machinery, providing insights into its activation and inhibition.

Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine efficacy is reduced when full virion 146S dissociates into pentameric 12S subunit. Here, the authors elucidate the molecular basis of this compromised immunogenicity by comparing antigenicity, humoral immunogenicity and structures of 146S and 12S particles.

Echovirus 30 (E30) belongs to the Enterovirus-B group and causes aseptic meningitis in humans. Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structures of the E30 E-particle, A-particle and the mature virion, as well as structures of E30 in complex with its receptor FcRn and CD55, and furthermore they describe a structure-based algorithm that allows the prediction of EV receptor usage.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a contagious DNA virus causing lethal disease in swine. This study reveals structures of ASFV RNA polymerase bound to protein M1249L, showing its vital roles in regulating early transcription and packaging.

Hepatitis A virus is a picornavirus that causes significant morbidity but remains poorly understood; this paper now provides high-resolution crystal structures of both the mature and the empty hepatitis A virus particle, which show that the three-dimensional structure resembles insect picorna-like viruses.

In this study, Qin et al. present a murine-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain, MASCp36, as a model for studying the pathogenicity, evolution and adaptation of the virus to human and animal hosts.

Individual antibodies identified in the blood of people triple-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 predominantly bind spike protein and are highly effective at neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron (B.1.1.529).

A high-throughput yeast display platform is used to analyse the profiles of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding ___domain (RBD) that enable escape from antibodies, and suggests that most anti-RBD antibodies can be escaped by the Omicron variant.

Biochemical and structural studies of the interactions between antibodies and spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants indicate how these variants have evolved to escape antibody-mediated neutralization.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a Flavivirus responsible for thousands of deaths every year for which there are no specific anti-virals. Here, Wang et al. report the cryo-EM structure of mature JEV at near-atomic resolution and identify structural elements that modulate stability and virulence.

Cryo-EM structures covering full-length yeast Smc5/6 in three states and the accompanying mutagenesis data reveal multiple new structural and functional features of this unique SMC complex.

The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers.

The disease-causing pathogen Coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10) is a human type-A Enterovirus. Here the authors present the cryo-EM structures of the mature CVA10 virion and the empty- and A-particles of CVA10, which is of interest for CVA10 vaccine development.

Developing high-performance and mechanically robust active-layer systems is crucial to commercializing flexible organic solar cells. Here, authors design small molecule acceptors with ethyl ester side chains and achieve certified efficiency of over 19% for mechanically robust devices.

Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) belongs to the α-herpesvirinae subfamily and is a sexually transmitted virus that causes genital ulcer disease. Here the authors present the 3.75 Å cryo-EM structure of the HSV-2 C-capsid with capsid-vertex-specific component and describe α-herpesvirus-specific structural features.

The detailed mechanism of how non-enveloped viruses initiate infection remains obscure. Ren et al. present the atomic structure of an uncoating intermediate for the human picornavirus CAV16, revealing a major capsid protein partly extruded from the capsid and suggesting a model for RNA release.

Several approaches based on positron emission tomography (PET) are currently used to evaluate cancer response to immunotherapy. Here the authors report the results of a phase 1/2 trial evaluating a PET radiotracer, ⁶⁸Ga-grazytracer, for the imaging of granzyme B expression in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors or CAR-T cell therapy.

NeoCoV and its close relative, PDF-2180, can efficiently bind to and use specific bat ACE2 orthologues and, less favourably, human ACE2 as entry receptors through their receptor-binding domains on the spike protein.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major agent of hand, foot and mouth disease in children, but no vaccine or antiviral therapy is available. Structural analysis of the mature virus and natural empty particles reveals that the larger empty particles resemble elusive enterovirus uncoating intermediates, allowing insight into the process of enterovirus uncoating.

Enterovirus HEV71 is responsible for recurring epidemics in developing countries. New structural analyses coupled with in silico docking methods have allowed for the generation of potent inhibitors of viral-envelope uncoating that block subsequent insertion of viral RNA into the host cell.

The Ljungan virus is a picornavirus that lacks the internal coat protein VP4, and the packaging of its RNA genome is poorly understood. Here, the authors use cryo-electron microscopy to visualize this virus and suggest that it uses a different mechanism to other viruses for encapsidation of its genome.

The structure of enterovirus 71 in complex with its receptor SCARB2 provides insights into the mechanism of viral uncoating within the endo/lysosome compartment and identifies few conserved key residues within the binding footprint that might facilitate the design of receptor mimic therapeutics.

Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structure of the archaeal virus SH1 at 3.8 Å resolution and show how the major capsid proteins assemble into hetero-hexamers, providing insights into the assembly process of this and related PRD1-adeno lineage viruses.

Secondary structures and long-range RNA interactions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome have been investigated by various sequencing methods. Here the authors use an RNA-RNA hybrid sequencing method to predict the secondary and tertiary structure of the SRAS-CoV-2 RNA genome in the virion.

The structure of Aichi virus — a poorly characterized picornavirus that causes severe gastroenteritis in children — shows intermediate features between those of enteroviruses and cardioviruses, and provides clues into its cellular receptor.

Here, the authors provide the structure of mature Coxsackie Virus A10 alone and in complex with its receptor KREMEN1, and of A-particles. This shows how the receptor spans the viral canyon and suggests that receptor binding triggers pocket factor release and conformational changes resulting in expanded particles.

Two known anti-Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies are shown to bind quaternary epitopes spanning three envelope proteins, block viral attachment and prevent fusion. One low dose in mice is protective, underscoring their therapeutic potential.

Conventional reconstruction methods used in cryo-EM single particle analysis do not take the depth of field effect into account. Here the authors present a block-based reconstruction method to deal with the depth of field effect and show that this approach can improve the resolution of cryo-EM virus structures.