Researchers Identify Set of Cellular Receptors in Humans and Other Species for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus & Other Members of the Alphavirus Family

A new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) has identified a set of cellular receptors for at least three related alphaviruses shared across mosquitoes, humans, and animals that host the virus. Going a step further, the researchers tested a “decoy” molecule that successfully prevented infection and slowed disease progression in a series of experiments in cells and animal models, an important first step toward developing preventive and curative medicines against these highly pathogenic viruses with pandemic potential. The results were published online on December 20, 2022 in Nature. The article is titled “VLDLR and ApoER2 are receptors for multiple alphaviruses.”