Involvement of Surfactant Protein D in Ebola Virus Infection Enhancement via Glycoprotein Interaction

TL;DR

This study uncovers that surfactant protein D interacts with Ebola virus glycoprotein and enhances infection in vitro, revealing a novel host factor that may facilitate viral spread.

Contribution

It demonstrates for the first time that surfactant protein D can enhance Ebola virus infection through direct glycoprotein interaction.

Findings

hSP-D interacts specifically with Ebola GP.

hSP-D enhances Ebola virus infection in vitro.

Similar effects observed with porcine SP-D and Reston virus.

Abstract

Since the largest 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, understanding of Ebola virus infection has improved, notably the involvement of innate immune mediators. Amongst them, collectins are important players in the antiviral innate immune defense. A screening of Ebola glycoprotein (GP)-collectins interactions revealed the specific interaction of human surfactant protein D (hSP-D), a lectin expressed in lung and liver, two compartments where Ebola was found in vivo. Further analyses have demonstrated an involvement of hSP-D in the enhancement of virus infection in several in vitro models. Similar effects were observed for porcine SP-D (pSP-D). In addition, both hSP-D and pSP-D interacted with Reston virus (RESTV) GP and enhanced pseudoviral infection in pulmonary cells. Thus, our study reveals a novel partner of Ebola GP that may participate to enhance viral spread.