Researchers Uncover Influenza A Virus Strategy to Hijack Host Cell Machinery
Researchers at EMBL Hamburg, in collaboration with the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, have mapped how the influenza A virus (IAV) manipulates infected human cells. Using a novel experimental workflow that combines in-cell cross-linking mass spectrometry with AlphaFold-based structural modeling, the team identified direct protein-protein interactions within IAV-infected cells. This study, published in Nature Microbiology, reveals that IAV exploits host cell compartments, particularly paraspeckles, to facilitate its replication. The virus's strategy involves dissolving these nuclear organelles, which are crucial for cellular stress responses and antiviral gene regulation, thereby weakening the host's defense mechanisms. This research provides a new perspective on flu-host interactions and could inform the development of targeted therapies. 
