Double-Membrane Vesicles as Platforms for Viral Replication

Trends in Microbiology, vol. 28, pp. 1022–1033

Abstract

Viruses, as obligate intracellular parasites, exploit cellular pathways and resources in a variety of fascinating ways. A striking example of this is the remodelling of intracellular membranes into specialized structures that support the replication of positive-sense ssRNA (+RNA) viruses infecting eukaryotes. These distinct forms of virus-induced structures include double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), found during viral infections as diverse and notorious as those of coronaviruses, enteroviruses, noroviruses, or hepatitis C virus. Our understanding of these DMVs has evolved over the past 15 years thanks to advances in imaging techniques and modern molecular biology tools. In this article, we review contemporary understanding of the biogenesis, structure, and function of virus-induced DMVs as well as the open questions posed by these intriguing structures.

Authors 4

1. Georg Wolff Aachen Section Electron Microscopy Department of Cell and Chemical Biology

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Charlotte E. Melia Aachen Section Electron Microscopy Department of Cell and Chemical Biology

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Eric J. Snijder Aachen Molecular Virology Laboratory Department of Medical Microbiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Molecular Virology laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Montserrat Bárcena corresponding Aachen Section Electron Microscopy Department of Cell and Chemical Biology Section Electron Microscopy Department of Cell and Chemical Biology

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.barcena@lumc.nl

   Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands