T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) contributes to Hantaan virus entry into human airway epithelial cells

Abstract

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne haemorrhagic fever viruses leading to serious diseases. Viral attachment and entry represent the first steps in virus transmission and are promising targets for antiviral therapeutic intervention. Here we investigated receptor use in human airway epithelium of the Old and New World hantaviruses Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Andes virus (ANDV). Using a biocontained recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotype platform, we provide first evidence for a role of the cellular phosphatidylserine (PS) receptors of the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) in HTNV and ANDV entry. In line with previous studies, HTNV, but not ANDV, was able to use the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate and v{beta}3 integrin as co-receptors. In sum, our studies demonstrate for the first time that hantaviruses use PS receptors and hence apoptotic mimicry to invade human airway epithelium, which may explain why these viruses can easily break the species barrier.