IISc Scientist Decode Virus Hijack Mechanism

IISc scientists, including Tanweer Hussain and Deepakash Das, decoded how encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) hijacks host cell ribosomes to reproduce.

EMCV uses an Internal Ribosomal Entry Site (IRES) in its genetic material to bind to the host's 40S ribosomal subunit and initiator tRNA, blocking normal protein production.

The study, published in eLife, used cryo-electron microscopy to capture the viral IRES-48S ribosomal pre-initiation complex, a mechanism not seen in other viruses.

The discovery could help develop new antiviral treatments by understanding how EMCV seizes control of protein-making machinery.