New molecular map reveals how the flu virus hijacks human cells
Researchers have developed a detailed molecular map showing how the influenza A virus interacts with human proteins inside intact cells. This structural insight provides a new foundation for developing more effective antiviral drugs and vaccines.
Why it matters
Mapping viral-host interactions at a molecular level is essential for creating targeted therapies to combat seasonal flu and potential future pandemics.
Researchers at EMBL Hamburg, working with scientists at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), have produced an unusually detailed map of how influenza A reshapes infected human cells. Their customized workflow allowed them to observe protein interactions directly inside intact cells rather than relying only on samples that had been broken apart.
Seasonal influenza causes 3-5 million cases of severe illness worldwide each year and is linked to as many as 650,000 deaths. Influenza A has also driven multiple pandemics, including the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
After entering a cell, the virus releases RNA containing the instructions for making a small set of viral proteins. Those proteins spread through the host cell and redirect its molecular systems, turning the cell into a production site for new virus particles.
Mapping the Flu Virus Inside Intact Cells
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