Actin dynamics is important for first steps during ASFV entry in Vero cells.

A–D) Disruption of actin dynamics reduces the entry of ASFV. A) Uptake assays were performed by FACS. Pretreated cells with DMSO or 8 µM Cyto D were infected (MOI 10) for 60 min. Graphic shows percentage of virus entry relative to DMSO control, measured as p72 signal (n = 3, performed in duplicate; mean ±S.D). B) Cells were pretreated (4 µM Cyto D) and infected (MOI 1) for 16 h. Equivalent amounts of protein were analyzed by Western blot with an anti-ASFV antibody. β-actin was detected as a load control. C) After 48 hpi (MOI 1) supernatants from treated cells (8 µM Cyto D) were recovered and lytic viruses were titrated (n = 3, mean ±S.D). D) Development of viral factories (arrowheads) was analyzed by CLSM after treatment (8 µM Cyto D) and infected (MOI 5) for 16 h. Fixed cells were stained with Topro3 (blue), TRITC-phalloidin (red), and anti-p72 (green) to visualize cell nuclei, actin filaments and viral factories, respectively. Images of a mid z-section are shown. The percentage of infected cells of three independent experiments from CLSM images (100 cells per condition) is represented in graphic format (mean ±S.D.). E–F) ASFV infection induces rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. Cells were infected at a MOI of 50 pfu/cell (E) or transfected with pEGFP-actin for 16 h and then infected (MOI 50). For both, E and F, cells were fixed at indicated times post infection and incubated with Alexa Fluor 488-phalloidin (E), anti-p72 and Topro3 (E and F) to stain actin filaments, viral particles and cell nuclei, respectively. Z-slides images were taken by CLSM and represented as a maximum of z-projection. S.D., standard deviation; Cyto D, Cytochalasin D. * Unspecific cellular protein detected by the antibody.