Rubella virus contains three major structural polypeptides: two membrane glycoproteins, E1 and E2 and a single nonglycosylated RNA-associated capsid protein, C, within the virion. One of the envelope proteins, E1, is responsible for viral hemagglutination and neutralization.

Rubella virus (RuV) is the pathogenic agent of the disease rubella, transmitted only between humans via the respiratory route, and is the main cause of congenital rubella syndrome when infection occurs during the first weeks of pregnancy.

Rubella virus is an enveloped RNA virus with a single antigenic type that does not cross react with other togaviruses. Rubella virus can be grown in several common laboratory cell lines. Sequencing of the approximately 10 000 nucleotide long, single-stranded rubella genome has been completed.

The genomic RNA of rubella virus contains two long open reading frames (ORF), a 5′- proximal ORF that codes for the nonstructural proteins and a 3′-proximal ORF that encodes the structural proteins.

The molecular structure of rubella virus was first observed using antigen-antibody complexes under electron microscopy in 1967 and later verified by thin section techniques. 9, 10 Further studies using electron microscopy characterized assembled rubella viral particles as measuring between 50 and 85 nm in diameter. 11 Rubella virus contains a ...

Nov 26, 2013 · RV contains three structural proteins, namely, the capsid protein (∼31 kDa) and the glycoproteins E1 (58 kDa) and E2 (42–47 kDa). The capsid protein interacts with the RNA genome and forms the nucleocapsid, which is surrounded by a lipid membrane upon which E1 and E2 are arranged.

RUBV strains are divided into two clades. Clade 1 is further divided into 10 genotypes (1a and 1B to 1J) while clade 2 has three (2A to 2C) genotypes. Currently, four genotypes, namely, 1E, 1G, 1J, and 2B, are reported to be commonly circulating in different regions of the world (13).

Here we report a helical structure of rubella virions using cryo-electron tomography. Sub-tomogram averaging of the surface spikes established the relative positions of the viral glycoproteins, which differed from the earlier icosahedral models of the virus.

Rubella virus is a small enveloped virus that assembles in association with Golgi membranes. Freeze-substitution electron microscopy of rubella virus-infected cells revealed a previously unrecognized virion polymorphism inside the Golgi stacks: ...

Dec 10, 2013 · Despite its medical importance, compared with the related alphaviruses, very little is known about the structure of RV. The RV capsid protein is an essential structural component of virions as well as a key factor in virus-host interactions. Here we describe three crystal structures of the structural domain of the RV capsid protein.