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Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
11:48

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

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Respiratory syncytial virus ribonucleoproteins hijack microtubule Rab11 dependent transport for intracellular

Gina Cosentino1, Katherine Marougka1, Aurore Desquesnes1

  • 1Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles St. Quentin, UMR 1173 (2I), INSERM, Versailles, France.

Plos Pathogens
|July 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) uses microtubules for transport of its ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs). This study reveals RSV vRNPs hijack the endosome recycling pathway for efficient movement within infected cells.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe infant respiratory infections.
  • RSV replication involves cytoplasmic inclusions and viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs).
  • Mechanisms of vRNP transport to assembly sites remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transport mechanisms of RSV vRNPs within infected cells.
  • To identify cellular pathways involved in vRNP intracellular trafficking.

Main Methods:

  • Generated recombinant fluorescent RSV for live-cell imaging of vRNPs.
  • Developed automated imaging pipeline for high-throughput vRNP movement analysis.
  • Utilized microtubule depolymerization and Rab11a protein inhibition/immunoprecipitation.

Main Results:

  • ~10% of vRNPs showed directed motion along microtubules.
  • Microtubule depolymerization restricted vRNP movement.
  • ~30% of vRNPs colocalized with Rab11a, a marker of the endosome recycling pathway.
  • Rab11a inhibition reduced vRNP movement; Rab11a immunoprecipitated with vRNPs.

Conclusions:

  • RSV vRNPs are transported along microtubules.
  • The endosome recycling pathway, involving Rab11a, is hijacked by RSV for vRNP trafficking.
  • This study elucidates a novel mechanism for viral intracellular transport.

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