WAS and infection: Our data do not support such a role of the actin scaffold in guiding (vesicle-contained) MVM towards the plasma membrane, since (i) there is no homology between PV-encoded proteins and ENA/WASP-family proteins, (ii) recruitment of endogenous N-WASP is unlikely, as this protein is strongly down-regulated at late stages of infection [10], and (iii) infection induces actin filament degradation, known to inhibit this transport system [30].