Prediction of three-dimensional models for foot-and-mouth disease virus and hepatitis A virus.

Atomic models of foot-and-mouth disease virus and hepatitis A virus have been predicted using amino acid sequence alignments with the known structures of Mengo virus and human rhinovirus 14. The structural models are consistent with results of biochemical and immunological studies. The two viruses appear to have surface features exceedingly different than those of other picornaviruses. They also have large hydrophobic cavities within VP1 suggesting that it may be possible to inhibit their infectivity with suitably designed antiviral agents that block uncoating.