Molecular Basis of the Assembly and Budding of the Ebola Virus from the Plasma Membrane of Human Cells

Abstract

Lipid enveloped viruses replicate and bud from the host cell where they acquire their lipid coat. The Ebola virus, which buds from the plasma membrane of the host cell causes viral hemorrhagic fever and has a high fatality rate. To date little is known about how the plasma membrane mediates budding and egress of the Ebola virus. My lab is investigating the molecular basis of the plasma membrane assembly, budding and egress of this virus, which is regulated by the matrix protein, VP40. We use biochemical and biophysical tools along with cellular imaging and viral replication assays to investigate how VP40 interacts with the plasma membrane of human cells to regulate viral replication. This presentation will outline the molecular basis of VP40 association with plasma membrane lipids and how lipid-protein interactions regulate VP40 oligomerization and plasma membrane bending. Furthermore, VP40 plasma membrane binding displays sensitivity to the lipid composition in the plasma membrane, which can be altered to inhibit Ebola assembly and egress.