Structure basis for allosteric regulation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus polymerase function by Z matrix protein

DearEditor,The Arenaviridae family(recently assigned to the Bunyavirales order)is a group of emerging viruses that include causative agents of severe hemorrhagic fevers with high mortality in humans(de la Torre,2009).Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus(LCMV)is the prototypic member of the Arenaviridae family and belongs to the Old World(OW)arenavirus together with Lassa virus(LASV),which are distinct from the New World(NW)arenavirus[e.g.Machupo virus(MACV)and Junin virus(JUNV)].LCMV infection in the fetus and newborm results in severe impairment of brain development associated with sensory loss and mental retardation and is also known to be associated with severe systemic infection with high mortality in transplantation patients(Palacios et al.,2008).