Epstein-Barr virus exploits desmocollin 2 as the principal epithelial cell entry receptor

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects B and epithelial cells, causing various lymphomas and epithelial malignancies. Although cell-free infection of epithelial cells is inefficient, direct B-epithelial cell contact infection is highly efficient and probably the dominant route. To identify mechanisms of contact-mediated infection, we implemented a genome-wide CRISPR screen and uncovered desmocollin 2 (DSC2) as an EBV epithelial receptor and DSC3 as a co-factor for infection. DSC2 and DSC3 double knockout significantly inhibited both cell-free and cell-cell contact EBV infection of normal oral keratinocytes, while their overexpression permitted infection in receptor-negative cells. Antibodies to DSC2 blocked infection across normal oral keratinocytes, primary oral keratinocytes, and head and neck epithelial organoids. Combining DSC2 and DSC3 antibodies efficiently blocked cell-cell contact infection. Mechanistically, DSC2 interacted with the EBV gH/gL glycoprotein and facilitated epithelial fusion. Notably, EphA2 overexpression failed to restore infection in DSC2/3-deficient cells, indicating its dependence on DSC2/3. Our findings establish DSC2 as a principal EBV entry receptor and target for vaccine and therapeutic development.