Puumala virus (PUUV) is an enveloped, single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus. PUUV is a Hantavirus that belongs to the Hantavirus genus, within the family Bunyaviridae. Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that have global distribution. Rodents and small mammals act as natural reservoirs for Hantaviruses, with each Hantavirus strain being transmitted by a different rodent host species or related species. The hantavirus virion comprises three genome segments S, M and L, that encode the nucleocapsid (N) protein, glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase, respectively (Schmaljohn, 2007). GPC is a polyprotein of 1133–1158 amino acid (aa) residues in length (Spiropoulou, 2011). Cotranslational cleavage of GPC (aa1133–1158 amino acid polyprotein) at a site C-terminal to a conserved ‘WAASA’ sequence by the cellular signal peptidase complex produces glycoproteins G1/Gn and G2/Gc, respectively (Löber, et al., 2001). These glycoproteins are responsible for virus attachment and entry into the host cells and are considered to be a major determinant of virus pathogenicity (Spiropoulou, 2011). The G1 and G2 cytoplasmic tails interact with virus encoded ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes and are involved in virion assembly (Schmaljohn, et al., 1985; Hepojoki, et al., 2012). They form a spike complex, which is located on the outer surface of the virion with each spike containing four molecules of both glycoproteins. Virus-membrane fusion activity has been associated with G2 through the identification of a fusion peptide which appears to be conserved across the Bunyaviridae (Battisti, et al., 2011). Chimeric VLPs have been described for the generation of virus-reactive mAbs against hantavirus G2 glycoprotein (Zvirbliene, et al., 2014) which will be a useful tool for the development of diagnostic assays.
Recombinant protein corresponding to aa660-1116 of the M segment of Puumala virus Glycoprotein 2, strain Umea/hu, fused to a C-terminal human IgG1 Fc-tag with a 15aa glycine-serine linker, expressed in HEK293 cells. The fusion protein was co-expressed with the corresponding unloaded human IgG1 Fc chain.
Molecular Weight:~25kD
Storage and Stability:Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing and store at -70°C. Aliquots are stable for 6 months after receipt. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.
