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✅   Pre-assembly of biomolecular condensate seeds drives RSV replication

science

During infection many RNA viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), form specialized biomolecular condensates, inclusion bodies (IBs), where viral transcription and replication occur1-4. Paradoxically, high protein concentrations are typically required for condensate nucleation5, yet attaining sufficient protein levels in infection is thought to require IBs for viral transcription and replication. To uncover how viruses solve this paradox to establish IBs, we visualized early infection of RSV in real-time with single genomic viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) resolution. Our results reveal that IBs are nucleated from infecting vRNPs rather than de novo in the cytoplasm. IB nucleation further requires in-virion pre-assembly of viral protein-protein interaction networks on vRNPs to form 'pre-replication centers' (PRCs).

BioRxiv     Mar 27, 2025