Inhibition of Arenavirus entry and replication by the Cell-intrinsic restriction factor ZMPSTE24 is enhanced by IFITM antiviral activity

ZMPSTEP24 is a transmembrane protein, which has been shown to be an defense factor against influenza, Ebola, vaccinia and Zika virus infections. In this report, ZMPSTEP24 has also been shown to antagonize against Arenaviral infection by co-operating with interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM). These factors affect the kinetics of cellular endocytosis, which may be involved in the perturbation of membrane structure and stability. This study shed light on the importance of cellular membrane integrity for productive fusion of Arenavirus particles.