CRISPR editing of candidate host factors that impact influenza A virus infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory pathogen with a segmented negative-sense RNA genome that can cause epidemics and pandemics. The host factors required for the complete IAV infectious cycle have not been fully identified. Here, we examined three host factors for their contributions to IAV infectivity. We performed CRISPR-mediated knockout of cytidine monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase (CMAS) as well as CRISPR-mediated overexpression of beta-1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 (B4GALNT2) and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) in the human bronchial epithelial A549 cell line and evaluated the impact on IAV and other RNA viruses. We confirmed that knockout of CMAS or overexpression of B4GALNT2 restricts IAV infection by diminishing binding to the cell surface but has no effect on vesicular stomatitis virus infection. Although ADAR1 overexpression does not significantly inhibit IAV replication, it has a pro-viral effect with coxsackie B virus (CVB) infection. This pro-viral effect is not likely secondary to reduced type I interferon (IFN) production, as the induction of the IFN-stimulated genes ISG15 and CXCL10 is negligible in both parent and ADAR1-overexpressing A549 cells following CVB challenge. In contrast, ISG15 and CXCL10 production is robust and equal for parent and ADAR1-overexpressing A549 cells challenged with IAV. Taken together, these data provide insights into how host factors can be further explored to understand the dynamics of pro- and anti-viral factors.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A virus (IAV) remains a global threat due to its ability to cause pandemics, making the identification of host factors essential for developing new antiviral strategies. In this study, we utilized CRISPR-based techniques to investigate host factors that impact IAV infectivity. Knockout of CMAS, a key enzyme in sialic acid biosynthesis, significantly reduced IAV binding and infection by disrupting sialic acid production on the cell surface. Overexpression of B4GALNT2 had similar effects, conferring resistance to IAV infection through diminished cell-surface binding. Overexpression of ADAR1, known for its role in RNA editing and immune regulation, impacted IAV replication minimally but enhanced coxsackie B virus replication. Such findings reveal the diverse roles of host factors in viral infection, offering insights for targeted therapeutic development against IAV and other pathogens.