Surface labeling of enveloped viruses assisted by host cells

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Cell Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Virus labeling is crucial for understanding viral mechanisms and applications in biology, medicine, and materials science.
• Existing labeling methods often involve genetic engineering, which can alter viral bioactivity and increase complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a host-cell-assisted strategy for labeling enveloped viruses without genetic modification.
• To provide a simplified and accessible labeling technique for researchers.

Main Methods:

• Vero cells were incubated with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(cap biotinyl) (Biotin-Cap-PE) to create biotinylated host cells.
• Pseudorabies virus (PrV) was cultured in these modified cells, allowing spontaneous incorporation of Biotin-Cap-PE into newly formed virions.
• The natural viral assembly process was utilized for efficient labeling.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced biotinylated pseudorabies virus (PrV) progeny.
• Demonstrated that the labeling occurs during the natural viral assembly process within the host cell.
• Confirmed that the method avoids genetic engineering, preserving natural viral bioactivity.

Conclusions:

• The proposed host-cell-assisted strategy offers a straightforward and effective method for labeling enveloped viruses.
• This technique simplifies virus labeling, making it broadly applicable across various research fields.
• The method preserves viral bioactivity and reduces technical barriers for researchers.