The Association of Human Astrovirus with Extracellular Vesicles Facilitates Cell Infection and Protects the Virus from Neutralizing Antibodies
Carlos Baez-Navarro, Iván R. Quevedo, Susana López, Carlos F. Arias, Pavel Iša
Abstract
Astroviruses are an important cause of diarrhea in vulnerable population, particularly children; recently some reports have found these viruses in extra-intestinal organs, including the central nervous system, causing unexpected clinical disease. In this work, we found that human astrovirus strain Yuc8 associates with extracellular vesicles, possibly during or after their cell egress. The association with vesicles doubled astrovirus infectivity in less susceptible cells and rendered virus particles insensitive to neutralization by antibodies. These data suggest that extracellular vesicles could represent a novel pathway for astrovirus to disseminate outside the gastrointestinal tract.