BIK polymorphism and proteasome regulation unveil host risk factor for severe influenza

Influenza remains a pressing global health concern, causing substantial morbidity andmortality each year. With an estimated 1 billion cases and up to 650,000 associated deathsannually, its impact is profound. The economic toll of seasonal influenza in the UnitedStates is staggering, exceeding $87.1 billion annually, including direct medical costs sur-passing $10.4 billion. Despite the availability of antiviral drugs, the emergenceof resistance, and the zoonotic potential of avian strains, underscores theneed for novel therapeutic strategies. 

To address this challenge, a shift in focus from currentdrug targets to the development of universal treatments or vaccines effective against allviral strains is crucial. Since viruses rely on host cellular machinery for replication and cansubvert normal host functions, uncovering host–virus interactions is essential tounderstanding viral replication mechanisms, evasion of host defenses, and identifi-cation of key host factors.