Genomic and Structural Insights into Chandipura Virus: A Comparative in Silico Analysis of Indian and West African Strains and Potential Host Receptor Interactions

Abstract

Chandipura virus (CHPV), a member of the Rhabdoviridae family, is an emerging pathogen responsible for encephalitis outbreaks, particularly among children under 15 years of age. Predominantly transmitted by sandflies, CHPV has caused multiple outbreaks in India, whereas strains from West African countries, including Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria, have not been linked to human infections. The CHPV glycoprotein (G protein), a crucial spike protein, plays a key role in viral entry into host cells. In this study, we performed an in silico analysis to identify the potential mechanism of viral entry into host cells through interactions with the G protein. We also conducted bioinformatics analyses to examine the global distribution of CHPV strains and performed comparative structural and sequence-level analyses of the CHPV G protein. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a clear division of the CHPV G protein into two distinct clades. Despite this divergence, genome-wide analysis revealed high sequence conservation across the CHPV strains. Additionally, we identified potential interactions between the CHPV G protein and human receptors such as Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 1 (LRP1), facilitated by conserved lysine residues in the CHPV G protein in a calcium-dependent manner. The conservation of interacting residues across all strains raises concerns about the zoonotic potential of CHPV, particularly in regions where the virus is circulating in sandfly populations but has not yet caused any reported human infection. Our findings offer valuable insights into the genetic and structural similarities of CHPV strains, emphasizing the CHPV potential to spread beyond its current geographic boundaries and possibly cause human infections.