SARS-CoV-2 uses the host endolysosomal system for replication and egress. Here the authors show that SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor ORF3a localizes to the late endocytic compartments of the host cell to disrupt Rab7 GTP to GDP cycling and block lysosome function in cargo degradation, while activated Rab7 promotes virus replication.
- Kshitiz Walia
- Abhishek Sharma
- Amit Tuli