Revealing Different Pathways for Influenza A Virus To Reach Microtubules after Endocytosis by Quantum Dot-Based Single-Virus Tracking

Actin- and microtubule (MT)-based transport systems are essential for intracellular transport. During influenza A virus (IAV) infection, MTs provide long tracks for virus trafficking toward the nucleus. However, the role of the actin cytoskeleton in IAV entry and especially the transit process is still ambiguous. Here, by using quantum dot-based single-virus tracking, it was revealed that the actin cytoskeleton was crucial for the virus entry via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). After entry via CME, the virus reached MTs through three different pathways: the virus (1) was driven by myosin VI to move along actin filaments to reach MTs (AF); (2) was propelled by actin tails assembled by an Arp2/3-dependent mechanism to reach MTs (AT); and (3) directly reached MTs without experiencing actin-related movement (NA). Therefore, the NA pathway was the main one and the fastest for the virus to reach MTs. The AT pathway was activated only when plenty of viruses entered the cell. The viruses transported by the AF and AT pathways shared similar moving velocities, durations, and displacements. This study comprehensively visualized the role of the actin cytoskeleton in IAV entry and transport, revealing different pathways for IAV to reach MTs after entry. The results are of great significance for globally understanding IAV infection and the cellular endocytic transport pathway.