Bovine viral diarrhoea virus is internalized by clathrin-dependent receptor-mediated endocytosis

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae. In contrast to the members of the genus flavivirus, nothing is known about the viral entry route for pestiviruses. In this study, the process of BVDV infection following attachment to the cell surface was examined. BVDV clearly co-localizes with clathrin, with early endosome antigen-1 (EEA-1), an early endosome marker, and also with lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2), a lysosomal marker. BVDV internalization is inhibited by compounds that block clathrin- but not caveolae-dependent endocytosis. These findings demonstrate that BVDV enters the cells via the clathrin-coated pit pathway.