Live-Cell Imaging of Flaviviridae Family Virus Infections: Progress and Challenges

Abstract

The ability of a virus to be propagated within a host cell is dependent on a multitude of dynamic virus–host interactions. Live-cell imaging is an invaluable approach in the study of virus replication cycles and virus–host interactions as it can allow for the direct visualisation of key events and interactions in real time. These details can provide unique insights into many aspects of viral infections including the cellular pathways that are exploited by viruses, the evasion of host immune defences, and viral pathogenesis. This review summarises the live-cell fluorescence imaging approaches that have been developed and applied to study Flaviviridae virus family members that are responsible for significant public health burdens and outbreaks which, in many instances, are increasing in frequency and severity. We discuss how these approaches have expanded our understanding of fundamental stages of viral replication cycles by enabling the direct visualisation of the localisation, trafficking, and interactions of virus particles, proteins, and genomes at distinct stages. The strategies that can be employed to enhance the biological relevance of live-cell fluorescence imaging acquisitions are discussed, along with how live-cell imaging approaches can be further developed to increase resolution, enable multi-colour imaging, and support the long-term visualisation of multiple stages of a viral replication cycle.

Keywords

• live-cell imaging
• fluorescence microscopy
• orthoflavivirus
• HCV
• virus replication