Tracking single baculovirus retrograde transportation in host cell via quantum dot-labeling of virus internal component

Li Wen,Zhi-Ling Zhang,Jian Ao,Zhen-Hua Zheng,An-An Liu,Dai-Wen Pang,Li-Juan Zhang,Han-Zhong Wang,Yi Lin,Cheng Lv

doi:10.1186/s12951-017-0270-9

Abstract

BackgroundQuantum dot (QD)-based single virus tracking has become a powerful tool for dissecting virus infection mechanism. However, only virus behaviors at the early stage of retrograde trafficking have been dynamically tracked so far. Monitoring of comprehensive virus retrograde transportation remains a challenge.ResultsBased on the superior fluorescence properties of QDs and their labeling of virus internal component, the dynamic interactions between baculoviruses and all key transportation-related cellular structures, including vesicles, acidic endosomes, actins, nuclear pores and nuclei, were visualized at the single-virus level. Detailed scenarios and dynamic information were provided for these critical interaction processes.ConclusionsA comprehensive model of baculovirus retrograde trafficking involving virus endocytosis, fusion with acidic endosome, translocation to nuclear periphery, internalization into nucleus, and arriving at the destination in nucleus was proposed. Thus the whole retrograde transportation of baculovirus in live host cells was elucidated at the single-virus level for the first time.

Highlights

Quantum dot (QD)-based single virus tracking has become a powerful tool for dissecting virus infec‐ tion mechanism
QDs-recombinant baculovirus (RBV) can be obtained by incubating RBV with SA-QDs, probably because the internal capsid would be partially exposed with the loss of some loose envelope during virus purification with ultracentrifugation [18, 19]
No QD was found with wild type baculovirus (WBV) (Fig. 1d), suggesting that QDs were attached only to RBVs

Summary

Introduction

Quantum dot (QD)-based single virus tracking has become a powerful tool for dissecting virus infec‐ tion mechanism. Only virus behaviors at the early stage of retrograde trafficking have been dynamically tracked so far. Owing to the superior brightness and stability of quantum dots (QDs) [6], QDbased single virus tracking (SVT) has become a powerful tool for investigating infection dynamics of viruses at the single-virus level by providing in situ and real-time evidences [7,8,9,10,11]. By employing SVT based on QD-labeling of virus external envelope, information on the early stages of virus retrograde transportation has been provided [6,7,8,9]. The visualization of comprehensive virus retrograde trafficking, consisting of infection events both before and after the fusion, remains a challenge

Methods

Results

Conclusion