The Hao-Fountain syndrome gene USP7 restricts neurotropic orthoflavivirus entry through cell-intrinsic control of endosomal dynamics

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders are increasingly associated with immune phenotypes, including autoinflammation, immunodeficiency, and increased susceptibility to severe infection. To determine whether neurodevelopmental disorders-associated genes exert immune functions, we performed an arrayed siRNA screen targeting 28 genes with nonredundant cellular roles and assessed their effects on Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and innate immune pathways. We identified hits that intrinsically restrict ZIKV infection and modulate inflammatory pathways following infection. We further characterized the antiviral activity of the Hao-Fountain syndrome gene USP7, which potently restricts selected neurotropic orthoflaviviruses. USP7 inhibits ZIKV internalization before viral membrane fusion and genome release into the cytoplasm. Because USP7 plays a role in endosomal tubulation and recycling, we investigated whether endosomal recycling pathways restrict ZIKV infection. We identified the USP7-regulated E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM27, as well as the recycling-associated Rab GTPases RAB11 and RAB35, as potent regulators of ZIKV infection. Infection assays using cell lines expressing pathogenic USP7 variants and primary fibroblasts from individuals with Hao-Fountain syndrome demonstrated that disease-associated USP7 mutations impair its antiviral activity and increase permissivity to ZIKV infection. These findings are consistent with recent case reports of severe viral infection during early life in individuals with Hao-Fountain syndrome. Collectively, our study identifies endosomal recycling pathways as important intrinsic restriction mechanisms against neurotropic orthoflaviviruses and nominates pathogenic USP7 variation as a candidate inborn error of immunity.