COG6 is an essential host factor for influenza A virus infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) relies on the host cellular machinery to support its replication. Understanding these host dependencies can inform the development of novel antiviral strategies. In this study, we identified conserved oligomeric Golgi complex subunit 6 (COG6) as a novel host factor critical for IAV replication through a genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) knockout screen. Disruption of COG6 significantly impaired viral replication. Mechanistically, COG6 supports IAV replication via two distinct means. First, consistent with the role of the COG complex in Golgi homeostasis, COG6 is required for the proper presentation of surface sialic acids, the primary receptor for IAV entry. Second, COG6 deficiency unexpectedly led to lysosome-dependent degradation of viral proteins. Notably, lysosomal activity was also upregulated in IAV-infected wild-type cells, albeit to a lesser extent than in COG6-deficient cells. Treatment with lysosomal inhibitors rescued viral protein stability in COG6 knockout cells. Protein interaction analysis further demonstrated that COG6-mediated stabilization of viral proteins did not rely on viral protein-COG6 interaction, refuting the hypothesis that COG6 acts as a shield factor to protect viral protein from lysosomal degradation. Moreover, knockout of other COG subunits produced similar antiviral effects, suggesting that an intact COG complex is required for IAV replication. Together, these findings uncover a critical role of the COG complex in regulating IAV replication and highlight a previously unappreciated functional link between the Golgi and lysosomes that could be exploited for treating IAV infections.IMPORTANCEDespite advances in virology, numerous host determinants facilitating influenza A virus (IAV) pathogenesis remain uncharacterized. Our study establishes conserved oligomeric Golgi complex subunit 6 (COG6) as a critical host factor promoting IAV infection through complementary mechanisms: receptor modulation and viral protein stabilization. This represents the first demonstration that the COG complex regulates viral pathogenesis through proteostasis mechanisms, fundamentally expanding our understanding of host-virus interactions at the organelle interface. These findings not only provide new perspectives on viral exploitation of Golgi trafficking networks but also identify potential therapeutic targets against evolving influenza strains.