The protease specificity of influenza virus hemagglutinin and coronavirus spike protein with monobasic cleavage site: underlying mechanisms and host proteases involved (B07)

• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 197785619

Proteolytic activation of enveloped viruses including influenza A and B virus (IAV/IBV) and coronaviruses (CoV) is crucial for virus infectivity. We identified TMPRSS2 as major activating protease of IAV of almost all 16 HA-subtypes except certain H9 IAVs and H16 in human and murine airway cells and of IBV in human lung. In project B07 we aim at investigating the tissue distribution and role of TMPRSS2 orthologues in IAV activation in chicken and ducks that are important IAV hosts. In addition, we demonstrated that TMPRSS2 is essential for SARS-CoV-2 S activation in human airway cells. In B07 we aim at examining the compartmentalization of S cleavage by TMPRSS2.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1021: RNA Viruses: RNA Metabolism, Host Response and Pathogenesis
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Eva Böttcher-Friebertshäuser