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Computationally hybridized pathogenic mammarenavirus receptor binding domains reveal cryptic variants that elicit cross-neutralizing immune responses

Taylor, L.; Siman-Tov, G.; Ferrero, S.; Saito, T.; Helguera, G.; Maruyama, J.; Rodriguez, J. A.

2026-06-10 biophysics
10.64898/2026.06.07.730625 bioRxiv
Show abstract

The pathogenic mammarenaviruses, Machupo (MACV) and Junin (JUNV), are under evolutionary pressure to leverage human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1) for cellular entry while evading host immune responses during zoonosis. We now structurally and functionally investigate cryptic, computationally hybridized JUNV-MACV GP1 sequence variants. We then evaluate the ability of those variants to facilitate internalization of pseudotyped virus-like particles (PVs) into human cells and their recognition by neutralizing antibodies, including plasma from JUNV convalescent patients. We further compare the cryoEM structures of hTfR1-bound MACV GP1 to those of two functional hTfR1-bound MACV-JUNV hybrid GP1 variants that enable robust PV internalization and are also recognized by cross-neutralizing antibodies. Immunization with these variants demonstrates they and other hybrid GP1 sequences can elicit cross-reactive, neutralizing antibodies, supporting a model in which sequence adaptation within GP1 balances receptor recognition with immune evasion. This may inform the rational design of broadly neutralizing GP1-targeted antiviral therapies.

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