The Nucleolar Protein LYAR Facilitates Ribonucleoprotein Assembly of Influenza A Virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) must utilize the host cell machinery to replicate, but many of the mechanisms of IAV-host interaction remain poorly understood. Improved understanding of interactions between host factors and vRNP not only increases our basic knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of virus replication and pathogenicity but also provides insights into possible novel antiviral targets that are necessary due to the widespread emergence of drug-resistant IAV strains. Here, we have identified LYAR, a cell growth-regulating nucleolar protein, which interacts with viral RNP components and is important for efficient replication of IAVs and whose role in the IAV life cycle has never been reported. In addition, we further reveal the role of LYAR in viral RNA synthesis. Our results extend and improve current knowledge on the mechanisms of IAV transcription and replication.