Ebola virus proteins NP, VP35, and VP24 are essential and sufficient to mediate nucleocapsid transport

Significance Large complexes composed of the viral genome encapsidated by viral proteins (capsid or nucleocapsid) need to be transported from the sites of viral genome synthesis to the sites of budding within infected cells. For the highly pathogenic Ebola virus, as for many other viruses, it is not completely understood how this transport is accomplished and which viral components are necessary for transport-competent nucleocapsids. Using live-cell imaging in combination with a surrogate system to analyze nucleocapsid transport under biosafety level 2 conditions, we show that the Ebola virus proteins nucleoprotein, VP35, and VP24 are necessary and sufficient to form transport-competent nucleocapsids. The technical approach developed here is applicable to study the transport of other viruses and to characterize antivirals.