Genome-wide CRISPR screen reveals key role of sialic acids in PEDV and porcine coronavirus infections.

ABSTRACT: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a globally distributed alphacoronavirus with economic importance that can cause severe watery diarrhea and even death in piglets. To identify host factors essential for PEDV infection, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh7) using the highly virulent PEDV GIIb strain GDU. Several genes involved in the sialic acid and heparan sulfate biosynthesis pathway and cholesterol metabolism were highly enriched following PEDV selection. We validated that the host factor ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 4 (ST3GAL4), which catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid to sugar chains via α2,3-linked linkages, is important for PEDV infection. To systematically investigate the role of sialic acid in PED

SUBMITTER: Guo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421841 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature