Influenza polymerase interaction with its host transcriptional partners

Influenza viruses cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics through the transmission of novel zoonotic influenza strains to humans. Avian influenza viruses also threaten the poultry industry and can cause devastating economic losses. Influenza viruses are negative-sense RNA viruses with a segmented genome. The host cellular machinery is hijacked by influenza viruses to ensure viral transcription, replication, and propagation of new virions. For this, influenza virus proteins require close association with host proteins. Here, we aim to investigate the link between viral and host transcription and particularly how the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (FluPol) interacts with host transcriptional proteins to transcribe viral genes. We aim to elucidate the structural features and molecular mechanisms by which FluPol associates with host factors involved in the cellular RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. The functional and structural characterisation of key proteins involved in both host and viral transcription will provide a deeper mechanistic and molecular understanding of the methods that influenza viruses employ to hijack their host which can ultimately lead to disease in humans and animals.