mSphere of Influence: The perfect slice—from pizza to proteases

Nick Lennemann studies the intracellular interactions of viral and host proteins. In this mSphere of Influence article, he discusses his employment history and the mentors that promoted his training and transition to an independent research program focused on proteolytic determinants of virus infection. He highlights how "A novel interaction between dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 and the NS4A-2K-4B precursor is required for viral RNA replication but not for formation of the membranous replication organelle" by A. Płaszczyca, P. Scaturro, C. J. Neufeldt, M. Cortese, et al. (PLoS Pathog 15:e1007736, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007736) and "Species-specific disruption of STING-dependent antiviral cellular defenses by the Zika virus NS2B3 protease" by Q. Ding, J. M. Gaska, F. Douam, L. Wei, et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 115: E6310-E6318, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1803406115) demonstrate the importance of viral protease activity for the establishment of a productive intracellular environment for infection.