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Characterization of a filovirus (Měnglà virus) from Rousettus bats in China

Xing-Lou Yang1,2, Chee Wah Tan2, Danielle E Anderson2

  • 1CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.

Nature Microbiology
|January 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A new bat filovirus, Měnglà virus (MLAV), was discovered and characterized. This distinct virus uses NPC1 as an entry receptor and shows broad cell tropism, posing a high risk for interspecies transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Zoonotic Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Filoviruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), are highly pathogenic, causing severe hemorrhagic fevers.
  • The global discovery of diverse bat-borne filoviruses increases the risk of future outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel, phylogenetically distinct bat filovirus, Měnglà virus (MLAV).
  • To investigate MLAV's entry receptor usage, replication competence, and potential for interspecies transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of MLAV.
  • Assessing MLAV's ability to use Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) as an entry receptor.
  • Constructing chimeric MLAV mini-genomes and pseudotyping MLAV glycoproteins.

Main Results:

  • MLAV possesses a coding-complete genome with 32-54% nucleotide identity to known filoviruses, placing it phylogenetically between EBOV and MARV.
  • Despite low glycoprotein amino acid identity (22-39%), MLAV utilizes NPC1 for cell entry.
  • MLAV is replication-competent and its glycoproteins can transduce various cell lines, indicating broad cell tropism and interspecies spillover potential.

Conclusions:

  • MLAV represents a distinct filovirus lineage, potentially requiring a new genus taxon.
  • MLAV's functional characteristics, including NPC1 usage and broad cell tropism, highlight its zoonotic potential.
  • The findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance of bat-borne viruses for public health.

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