Project description:Viral infection perturbs host cells and can be used to uncover host regulatory mechanisms controlling both cell response and homeostasis. Here, using cell biological, biochemical and genetic tools, we reveal that influenza virus infection induces global transcriptional defects at the 3’-end of active host genes and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) run-through into extragenic regions. This effect induces the biogenesis of aberrant RNAs (3’-extensions and host gene fusions) which ultimately causes global transcriptional downregulation of physiological transcripts, an effect that impacts antiviral response and virulence. We show that this phenomenon occurs with multiple strains of influenza virus and it is dependent on influenza NS1 protein expression. Mechanistically, pervasive RNAPII run-through can be modulated by SUMOylation of an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of the NS1 expressed by the 1918 pandemic influenza virus. SUMOylation increases NS1 partitioning in nuclear granules and interference with the host transcriptional apparatus which result in augmentation of termination defects and a concomitant increase in global host gene shut off. Our data identify a general strategy used by influenza virus to suppress host gene expression and indicate that polymorphisms in IDRs of viral proteins, along with human genetic variation in enzymes that metabolize post-translational modifications, can determine the outcome of an infection. We thus propose that analysis of strain-specific determinant of pathogenesis can shed light on the molecular basis of virulence.
Project description:Seasonal influenza outbreaks represent a large burden for the healthcare system as well as the economy. While the role of the microbiome in the context of various diseases has been elucidated, the effects on the respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiome during influenza illness is largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the temporal development of the respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiome of swine using a multi-omics approach prior and during influenza infection. Swine is a suitable animal model for influenza research, as it is closely related to humans and a natural host for influenza viruses. Our results showed that IAV infection resulted in significant changes in the abundance of Moraxellaceae and Pasteurellaceae families in the upper respiratory tract. To our surprise, temporal development of the respiratory microbiome was not affected. Furthermore, we observed significantly altered microbial richness and diversity in the gastrointestinal microbiome after IAV infection. In particular, we found increased abundances of Prevotellaceae, while Clostridiaceae and Lachnospiraceae decreased. Furthermore, metaproteomics showed that the functional composition of the microbiome, known to be robust and stable under healthy conditions, was heavily affected by the influenza infection. Metabolome analysis proved increased amounts of short-chain fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract, which might be involved in faster recovery. Furthermore, metaproteome data suggest a possible immune response towards flagellated Clostridia induced during the infection. Therefore, it can be assumed that the respiratory infection with IAV caused a systemic effect in the porcine host and microbiome.
Project description:To further understand the molecular pathogenesis of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection, we profiled cellular miRNAs of lung tissue from BALB/c mice infected with influenza virus BJ501 and a mouse-adapted influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1)(PR8) as a comparison.
Project description:Host–microbiota interactions critically shape susceptibility and outcome of viral respiratory infections such as influenza A virus (IAV). The short-chain fatty acid butyrate is a key microbial metabolite with established immunomodulatory properties, yet its pleiotropic effects on viral pathogenesis and immune–metabolic balance remain incompletely understood. Physiologically relevant models that recapitulate the complexity of the alveolar niche remain limited. However, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived cell cultures offer a unique opportunity to investigate these interactions within a structured human microenvironment and to extend them toward patient-specific applications. We developed a multicellular alveolus-on-chip platform derived from isogenic human iPSCs, integrating alveolar type II epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages under an air–liquid interface and physiological flow. Influenza A virus (IAV) infection was modelled in this system to test the influence of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate on viral replication. Single-cell RNA sequencing and cytokine profiling were used to map transcriptional dynamics and immune–metabolic responses related to viral infection and butyrate treatment. The alveolus-on-chip recapitulated key features of the human distal lung, including epithelial–macrophage crosstalk, barrier integrity, and IAV susceptibility. Macrophage plasticity and epithelial remodeling were central determinants of infection outcome. Butyrate treatment constrained host biosynthetic and metabolic programs exploited by IAV, including ribosome biogenesis, RNA processing, and mitochondrial function, while preserving type I/II interferon signaling. Cytokine profiling further demonstrated reduced IL-1β and TNF-α, elevated IL-10, and increased GM-CSF, suggesting a shift toward regulatory and tissue-supportive immunity. This study establishes an isogenic iPSC-derived alveolus-on-chip as a human-relevant platform to dissect immunometabolic regulation during viral infection. The model reveals a dual role of butyrate in dampening inflammation and metabolic activation while maintaining antiviral defense. Beyond influenza, the approach may serve as a scalable framework for patient-specific modeling of respiratory infections and for assessing nutritional or metabolite-based interventions.
Project description:Influenza A virus (IAV) lacks the enzyme for adding 5â caps to its RNAs, and thus snatches the 5â ends of host capped RNAs to prime transcription. Neither the preference of the host RNA sequences snatched, nor the effect of âcap-snatchingâ on host processes has been completely defined. Previous studies of influenza cap-snatching used poly(A)-selected RNA from infected cells or relied solely on annotated host protein-coding genes to define host mRNAs selected by the virus. To examine the substrate-product relationship between all host RNAs, including non-coding RNAs, and viral RNAs, we used an unbiased approach to identify the host and viral capped RNAs from IAV-infected cells. We demonstrate that IAV predominantly snatches caps from non-coding host RNAs, particularly U1 and U2 small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Because snRNAs regulate host mRNA processing, cap-snatching of snRNAs may constitute a means by which IAV hijacks host cell metabolism. examine caps snatched by influenza virus A
Project description:Influenza A virus is a kind of single negative-stranded RNA virus which belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family. It can cause localized outbreak or worldwide epidemic in a short time for its great contagiosity, fast spread speed and a wide range of host, and H1N1 influenza virus is a strong pathogenic subtype of influenza A virus. Influenza A virus infection has been shown to alter miRNA expression both in cultured cells and in animal models. We used microRNA microarrays to detail the programme of microRNA expression and identified distinct classes of differentially regulated microRNAs during this process.