Identification of interferon-stimulated genes that attenuate Ebola virus infection

Nat Commun. 2020 Jun 11;11(1):2953. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16768-7.

Abstract

The West Africa Ebola outbreak was the largest outbreak ever recorded, with over 28,000 reported infections; this devastating epidemic emphasized the need to understand the mechanisms to counteract virus infection. Here, we screen a library of nearly 400 interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) against a biologically contained Ebola virus and identify several ISGs not previously known to affect Ebola virus infection. Overexpression of the top ten ISGs attenuates virus titers by up to 1000-fold. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that three ISGs interfere with virus entry, six affect viral transcription/replication, and two inhibit virion formation and budding. A comprehensive study of one ISG (CCDC92) that shows anti-Ebola activity in our screen reveals that CCDC92 can inhibit viral transcription and the formation of complete virions via an interaction with the viral protein NP. Our findings provide insights into Ebola virus infection that could be exploited for the development of therapeutics against this virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Ebolavirus / metabolism
  • Ebolavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Interferons / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • Virus Replication / physiology

Substances

  • CCDC92 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • Interferons