Title: Involvement of Surfactant Protein D in Ebola Virus Infection Enhancement via Glycoprotein Interaction,
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.