Lipid-mediated biosynthetic labeling strategy for in vivo dynamic tracing of avian influenza virus infection

Abstract

Monitoring the infection behavior of avian influenza viruses is crucial for understanding viral pathogenesis and preventing its epidemics among people. A number of viral labeling methods have been utilized for tracking viral infection process, but most of them are laborious or decreasing viral activity. Herein we explored a lipid biosynthetic labeling strategy for dynamical tracking the infection of H5N1 pseudotype virus (H5N1p) in host. Biotinylated lipids (biotinyl Cap-PE) were successfully incorporated into viral envelope when it underwent budding process by taking advantage of host cell-derived lipid metabolism. Biotin-H5N1p virus was effectively in situ–labeled with streptavidin-modified near-infrared quantum dots (NIR SA-QDs) using streptavidin-biotin conjugation with well-preserved virus activities. Dual-labeled imaging obviously shows that H5N1p viruses are primarily taken up in host cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In animal models, Virus-conjugated NIR QDs displayed extraordinary photoluminescence, superior stability, and tissue penetration in lung, allowing us to long-term monitor respiratory viral infection in a noninvasive manner. Importantly, the co-localization of viral hemagglutinin protein and QDs in infected lung further conformed the dynamic infection process of virus in vivo. Hence, this in situ QD-labeling strategy based on cell natural biosynthesis provides a brand-new and reliable tool for noninvasion visualizing viral infection in body in a real-time manner.

Nanomaterials for virus sensing and tracking

“…SVT allows the in situ study of dynamic viral behavior inside living cells in real-time. 390,391 Ever since the first use of QD as labels for single lentiviruses was proposed in 2008, the prevalence of QDs in SVT has been growing tremendously. 392 The significance of QDs as labels for virus imaging can be attributed to the preservation of more than 90% viral infectivity that is observed in the case of single as well as dual-labeling.…”

“…SVT allows the in situ study of dynamic viral behavior inside living cells in real-time. 390,391 Ever since the first use of QD as labels for single lentiviruses was proposed in 2008, the prevalence of QDs in SVT has been growing tremendously. 392…”