Multi-platform omics analysis of Nipah virus infection reveals viral glycoprotein modulation of mitochondria

Cell Rep. 2025 Mar 25;44(3):115411. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115411. Epub 2025 Mar 17.

Abstract

The recent global pandemic illustrates the importance of understanding the host cellular infection processes of emerging zoonotic viruses. Nipah virus (NiV) is a deadly zoonotic biosafety level 4 encephalitic and respiratory paramyxovirus. Our knowledge of the molecular cell biology of NiV infection is extremely limited. This study identified changes in cellular components during NiV infection of human cells using a multi-platform, high-throughput transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics approach. Remarkably, validation via multi-disciplinary approaches implicated viral glycoproteins in enriching mitochondria-associated proteins despite an overall decrease in protein translation. Our approach also allowed the mapping of significant fluctuations in the metabolism of glucose, lipids, and several amino acids, suggesting periodic changes in glycolysis and a transition to fatty acid oxidation and glutamine anaplerosis to support mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Notably, these analyses provide an atlas of cellular changes during NiV infections, which is helpful in designing therapeutics against the rapidly growing Henipavirus genus and related viral infections.

Keywords: CP: Microbiology; Nipah virus; host; infection; lipidomics; metabolism; metabolomics; omics; paramyxovirus; proteomics; transcriptomics.

MeSH terms

  • Glycoproteins* / genetics
  • Glycoproteins* / metabolism
  • Henipavirus Infections* / metabolism
  • Henipavirus Infections* / virology
  • Humans
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Mitochondria* / metabolism
  • Nipah Virus* / genetics
  • Nipah Virus* / metabolism
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Viral Proteins