Dynein- and kinesin- mediated intracellular transport on microtubules facilitates RABV infection

•The polymerization of microtubules is required for RABV infection in N2a cells.•The functional disruption of the cytoplasmic dynein inhibited RABV infection.•Blockage in kinesin-based motility attenuated RABV infection. Rabies, caused by rabies virus (RABV), is one of the most important neurotropic zoonoses and poses a severe threat to human and animal health. Exploration of its mechanism of neural transmission is meaningful but still insufficient. Here, we described the effects of microtubule-depolymerizing drugs and inhibitors of microtubule motor proteins on RABV infection. Colchicine, a microtubule-depolymerizing drug, significantly impeded RABV production in N2a cells. Overexpression of CC1 or p50 attenuated viral infection through the functional disruption of cytoplasmic dynein, which was consistent with the inhibitory effect of Na3VO4, a dynein activity inhibitor. Moreover, transfection with Flag-KHCct impaired RABV infection, as cytoplasmic kinesin-based motility was blocked. These results demonstrated that RABV can infect N2a cells in a manner that depends on microtubule integrity as well as dynein and kinesin function.