Functional genomics screens reveal a role for TBC1D24 and SV2B in antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection.

Under some conditions, dengue virus (DENV) can hijack IgG antibodies to facilitate its uptake into target cells expressing Fc gamma receptors (FcgR)-a process known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. Beyond a requirement for FcgR, host dependency factors for this unusual IgG-mediated infection route remain unknown. To identify cellular factors exclusively required for ADE, here, we performed CRISPR knockout (KO) screens in an in vitro system poorly permissive to infection in the absence of IgG antibodies. Validating our approach, a top hit was FcgRIIa, which facilitates the binding and internalization of IgG-bound DENV but is not required for canonical infection. Additionally, we identified host factors with no previously described role in DENV infection, including TBC1D24 and SV2B, which have known functions in regulated secretion. Using genetic knockout and trans-complemented cells, we validated a functional requirement for these host factors in ADE assays performed with monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal sera in multiple cell lines and using all four DENV serotypes. We show that knockout of TBC1D24 or SV2B impaired the binding of IgG-DENV complexes to cells without affecting FcgRIIa expression levels. Thus, we identify cellular factors beyond FcgR that promote efficient ADE of DENV infection. Our findings represent a first step toward advancing fundamental knowledge behind the biology of a non-canonical infection route implicated in disease.IMPORTANCEAntibodies can paradoxically enhance rather than inhibit dengue virus (DENV) infection in some cases. To advance knowledge of the functional requirements of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection beyond existing descriptive studies, we performed a genome-scale CRISPR knockout (KO) screen in an optimized in vitro system permissive to efficient DENV infection only in the presence of IgG. In addition to FcgRIIa, a known receptor that facilitates IgG-mediated uptake of IgG-bound, but not naked DENV particles, our screens identified TBC1D24 and SV2B, cellular factors with no known role in DENV infection. We validated a functional role for TBC1D24 and SV2B in mediating ADE of all four DENV serotypes in different cell lines and using various antibodies. Thus, we identify cellular factors beyond Fc gamma receptors that promote ADE mechanisms. This study represents a first step toward advancing fundamental knowledge beyond a poorly understood non-canonical viral entry mechanism.