Journal Of Clinical Investigation, 16 December, 2025, DOI：https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI200225

Targeting the host factor HGS–viral membrane protein interaction in coronavirus infection

Xubing Long, Rongrong Chen, Rong Bai, Buyun Tian, Yu Cao, Kangying Chen, Fuyu Li, Yiliang Wang, Yongjie Tang, Qi Yang, Liping Ma, Fan Wang, Maoge Zhou, Xianjie Qiu, Yongzhi Lu, Jie Zheng, Peng Zhou, Xinwen Chen, Qian Liu,2 Xuepeng Wei, Yongxia Shi, Yanhong Xue, Jincun Zhao, Wei Ji, Liqiao Hu, Jinsai Shang, Tao Xu, and Zonghong Li

Abstract

While current antivirals primarily target viral proteins, host-directed strategies remain underexplored. Here, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) screening to identify the host protein, hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HGS), facilitating the pan-coronavirus infection both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HGS interacts with the viral membrane (M) protein, facilitating its trafficking to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment for virion assembly. Conversely, HGS deficiency caused M retention in the ER, blocking assembly. Leveraging this interaction, we designed M-derived peptides and screened over 5,000 FDA-approved or commonly used drugs, identifying riboflavin tetrabutyrate (RTB). Both the peptides and RTB bind HGS and disrupt its interaction with the M protein, leading to M retention in the ER and subsequent blockade of virion assembly. These agents demonstrated broad anti-pan-coronavirus activity in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings establish HGS as a druggable host target and identify RTB as a promising broad-spectrum antiviral candidate.

Article link：https://www.jci.org/articles/view/200225