Knockdown of Ebola virus VP24 impairs viral nucleocapsid assembly and prevents virus replication

J Infect Dis. 2011 Nov:204 Suppl 3:S892-6. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir311.

Abstract

The structural protein VP24 of Ebola virus (EBOV) is a determinant of virulence in rodent models and possesses an interferon antagonist function. In this study, we investigate the role of VP24 in EBOV replication using RNA interference by small interfering RNA to knock down the expression of this protein in virus-infected cells. We reveal that VP24 is required for assembly of viral nucleocapsids and that silencing of VP24 expression prevents the release of EBOV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Ebolavirus / genetics
  • Ebolavirus / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Mice
  • Nucleocapsid / physiology*
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Assembly / physiology*
  • Virus Replication / genetics*
  • Virus Replication / physiology

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • VP24 protein, Ebola virus
  • Viral Proteins