P. J. Lehner

Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identifies MAT2A as a critical host factor for BK Polyomavirus

The paper identifies MAT2A as a critical host factor for BKPyV infection through a CRISPR/Cas9 screen and shows a small molecule inhibitor of MAT2A is a potent antiviral drug.

A novel human fetal lung-derived alveolar organoid model reveals mechanisms of surfactant protein C maturation relevant to interstitial lung disease

LRRC15 mediates an accessory interaction with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

The paper identifies LRRC15 as a novel host factor that interacts with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, distinct from ACE2 and other known receptors, and shows it modulates viral infection.

EROS is a selective chaperone regulating the phagocyte NADPH oxidase and purinergic signalling

This study identifies EROS as a chaperone essential for gp91phox maturation and P2X7 receptor function, revealing its role in immune responses and infection resistance.

Cigarette smoke preferentially induces full length ACE2 exposure in primary human airway cells but does not alter susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection

The paper investigates how cigarette smoke affects ACE2 expression in airway cells and finds it increases full-length ACE2 without increasing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Topical TMPRSS2 inhibition prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection in differentiated primary human airway cells

This study shows topical camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in human airway cells, suggesting it could be used for pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis.

ADNKA overcomes SARS-CoV2-mediated NK cell inhibition through non-spike antibodies

This study identifies ADNKA as a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2-infected cells evade NK cell inhibition, showing that non-spike antibodies drive sustained NK activation and cytokine production.

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes express SARS-CoV-2 host entry proteins: screen to identify inhibitors of infection

The paper identifies benztropine and DX600 as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection using a screening platform with human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Dissecting HSV-1-induced host shut-off at RNA level

This study quantifies HSV-1-induced host shut-off mechanisms and identifies gene-specific transcriptional changes during early infection.

Periphilin self-association underpins epigenetic silencing by the HUSH complex

This study identifies the physicochemical properties of Periphilin required for HUSH complex assembly and epigenetic silencing, showing its N-terminal domain drives aggregation and repressive mark deposition.

A trimeric Rab7 GEF controls NPC1-dependent lysosomal cholesterol export

The paper identifies C18orf8 as a core component of the Mon1-Ccz1 GEF for Rab7, showing its role in Rab7 activation, endosomal LDL trafficking, and NPC1-dependent lysosomal cholesterol export.

Antagonism of PP2A is an independent and conserved function of HIV-1 Vif and causes cell cycle arrest

This study identifies HIV-1 Vif amino acid polymorphisms that regulate PP2A antagonism and demonstrate that this function causes G2/M cell cycle arrest independently of APOBEC3 proteins.

Interferon-responsive genes are targeted during the establishment of human cytomegalovirus latency

This study identifies that US28 downregulates interferon-inducible genes during HCMV latency, with IFI16 suppression enhancing viral gene expression via NF-κB.

Integrative functional genomics decodes herpes simplex virus 1

This study decodes the complete HSV-1 transcriptome and translatome during lytic infection, identifying novel transcripts, ORFs, and regulatory elements.

Promiscuous targeting of cellular proteins by Vpr drives massive proteomic remodelling in HIV-1 infection

The paper identifies Vpr as the main driver of proteomic changes in HIV-1 infection by degrading multiple host proteins.

The sterol-responsive RNF145 E3 ubiquitin ligase mediates the degradation of HMG-CoA reductase together with gp78 and Hrd1

This study identifies RNF145 as a sterol-responsive E3 ubiquitin ligase that, along with gp78 and Hrd1, mediates HMGCR degradation in response to sterol levels.

Functional proteomic atlas of HIV-infection inprimary human CD4+ T cells

This study provides a functional proteomic atlas of HIV infection in primary human CD4+ T cells, revealing 650 significantly perturbed proteins, many regulated by viral accessory proteins.

Neuropathic mutations in MORC2 perturb GHKL ATPase dimerization dynamics and epigenetic silencing by multiple structural mechanisms

This study investigates how neuropathic mutations in MORC2 disrupt dimerization dynamics and epigenetic silencing through structural changes in the ATPase module.