Extracellular amoebal-vesicles: potential transmission vehicles for respiratory viruses

NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2021 Mar 17;7(1):25. doi: 10.1038/s41522-021-00201-y.

Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory tract infections in children and immunocompromised adults worldwide. Here we report that amoebae-release respirable-sized vesicles containing high concentrations of infectious RSV that persisted for the duration of the experiment. Given the ubiquity of amoebae in moist environments, our results suggest that extracellular amoebal-vesicles could contribute to the environmental persistence of respiratory viruses, including potential resistance to disinfection processes and thereby offering novel pathways for viral dissemination and transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amoeba / growth & development
  • Amoeba / virology*
  • Child
  • Extracellular Vesicles / virology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Models, Biological
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / transmission*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Virus Replication