This study identifies MHC-II as a receptor that directly triggers membrane fusion for bat influenza virus H18N11, revealing a receptor-dependent mechanism distinct from conventional sialic acid receptor usage.

bioRxiv · Jul 9, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

K5 polysaccharides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection by preventing spike-proteolytic priming

Maria Milanesi, Chiara Urbinati, Liv Zimmermann, Pasqua Oreste, Alberto Zani, Arnaldo Caruso, Francesca Caccuri, Vibor Laketa, Petr Chlanda, Rebecca C. Wade, Marco Rusnati, Giulia Paiardi

This study shows K5 polysaccharides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 by blocking spike binding to ACE2 and furin cleavage, with K5OSH showing stronger antiviral activity than heparin.

npj Viruses · Jan 9, 2026Peer-reviewedBiochemistry

Morphology-dependent entry kinetics and spread of influenza A virus

Sarah Peterl, Carmen Maria Lahr, Carl Niklas Schneider, Janis Meyer, Xenia Podlipensky, Vera Lechner, Maria Villiou, Larissa Eis, Steffen Klein, Charlotta Funaya, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti‐Adam, Frederik Graw, Christine Selhuber‐Unkel, Karl Rohr, Petr Chlanda

This study investigates how influenza A virus morphology affects entry kinetics and cell-to-cell spread, finding that filamentous viruses spread more slowly and are advantageous under neutralizing antibody pressure.

The EMBO Journal · Jun 9, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

IFITM3 blocks influenza virus entry by sorting lipids and stabilizing hemifusion

Steffen Klein, Gonen Golani, Fabio Lolicato, Carmen Maria Lahr, Daniel Beyer, Alexia Herrmann, Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm, Nina Reddmann, Romy Brecht, Mehdi Hosseinzadeh, Androniki Kolovou, Jana Makroczyová, Sarah Peterl, Martin Schorb, Yannick Schwab, , Petr Chlanda

This study identifies how IFITM3 inhibits influenza virus entry by stabilizing hemifusion through lipid sorting in endosomal membranes.

Cell Host & Microbe · Mar 31, 2023Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology