Bekker, ShaniHuismans, H. (Henk), 1942-Van Staden, Vida2014-08-082014-08-082014-05Bekker, S, Huismans, H & Van Staden, V 2014, 'Factors that affect the intracellular localization and trafficking of African horse sickness virus core protein, VP7', Virology, vol. 456, pp. 279-291.0042-6822 (print)1096-0341 (online)10.1016/j.virol.2014.03.030http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41130African horse sickness virus (AHSV) VP7 is the major core protein of the virion. Apart from its role in virus assembly, VP7 forms crystalline-like particles during infection and when expressed in insect cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the process of VP7 crystalline-like particle formation. The intracellular distribution of VP7 was characterized in different systems and the association of VP7 with virus factories during AHSV infection was investigated. It was shown that the majority of VP7 is sequestered into these particles, and is therefore not available for new virion assembly. This is likely to have a negative impact on virus assembly and yield. By using specific markers and inhibitors of host trafficking pathways, VP7 localization was shown to be independent of host trafficking mechanisms and evaded host defenses against aggregation. Studying the process of VP7 crystalline-like particle formation will help us further understand AHSV replication and assembly.en© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Virology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Virology, vol. 456, pp. 279-291, 2014. doi : 10.1016/j.virol.2014.03.030.VP7Virus factoriesHost trafficking pathwayMicrotubulesAggresomeProteasomeUbiquitinLysosomeAfrican horse sickness virus (AHSV)Postprint Article