Respiratory Syncytial Virus co-opts host mitochondrial function to favour infectious virus production

https://elifesciences.org/articles/42448

MengJie Hu, Keith E Schulze, Reena Ghildyal, Darren C Henstridge, Jacek L Kolanowski, Elizabeth J New, Yuning Hong, Alan C Hsu, Philip M Hansbro, Peter AB Wark, Marie A Bogoyevitch, David A Jans

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for more deaths each year than influenza. Here, the authors investigate how RSV hijacks mitochondria for viral production.
• The authors suggest that RSV induces perinuclear clustering of mitochondria, reduction in mitochondrial respiration, impaired mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased reactive oxygen species production. 
• The authors find that inhibiting the dynein motor protein, or inhibiting mitochondrial ROS production, suppresses RSV production in vivo.