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Identifying cell-surface attachment factors and entry receptors for respiratory viruses
In addition to influenza A virus (IAV), members of the Paramyxoviridae family cause significant respiratory disease in humans. These include mumps virus (MuV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses (PIV). Many respiratory viruses use cell-surface glycans (such as sialic acid and glycosaminoglycans) as attachment factors to concentrate virions at the cell surface, however little is known regarding the specific receptors utilised by these viruses to enter host cells. Patrick’s group uses a range of molecular, biochemical and virological approaches to identify specific cell surface virus receptors to characterise how they recognise and internalise viruses.
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Identifying novel antiviral genes and understanding how they block influenza virus infection
Alveolar macrophages are susceptible to seasonal IAV infection but block virus growth whereas monocyte-derived macrophages and airway epithelial cells support virus growth. Therefore, alveolar macrophages express (unknown) host factors that block seasonal IAV. Of interest, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 does grow in alveolar macrophages and therefore evades restriction factors that block seasonal IAV. In Patrick’s laboratory, they are developing experimental approaches to examine individual host genes to assess their ability to block the growth of seasonal IAV. Moreover, they are investigating the viral determinants of HPAI H5N1 that allow them to evade these host restriction factors.
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Understanding the intracellular responses triggered in cells following influenza virus infection
Different subsets of IAV are susceptible to infection by IAV, however certain cell types can prevent virus replication while others cannot. In particular, airway macrophages block IAV replication whereas airway epithelial cells support IAV growth. Using RNA sequencing and molecular approaches, Patrick’s group is attempting to understand the different gene signatures elicited following infection of parenchymal (e.g. airway epithelial cells, club cells) and immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells) by IAV and other respiratory viruses. Studies in mouse and ferret models of IAV infection are complemented by in vitro experiments using primary cells from patients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Professor Patrick Reading
(03) 9342 9310 (WHO CCRRI) | (03) 9035 8681 (DMI) | patrick.reading@influenzacentre.org | preading@unimelb.edu.au
- Position:
- Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
- Theme(s):
- Immunology, Viral Infectious Diseases, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections, Emerging Infections, Influenza
- Discipline(s):
- Discovery Research, Education & Professional Development, Global Health
- Unit(s):
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI) , Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
- Lab Group(s):
- Reading Group
Professor Patrick Reading commenced as the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRRI) in September 2024. He is also a University of Melbourne Honorary (Professorial Fellow) with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute. Prior to his appointment as Director, Patrick was a Senior Medical Scientist and Educator at the WHO CCRRI where his work as Educator focused on improving laboratory-based detection and characterisation of influenza and other respiratory viruses in the Asia Pacific region.
Patrick completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 1997, receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the PhD thesis. He was awarded a Howard Florey Fellowship for his post-doctoral training in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford, UK where his research focused on poxvirus-mediated immune evasion. Since returning to Australia in 2002, his research has examined different aspects of the early or innate immune response induced following infection with different DNA or RNA viruses. His current research is focussed on investigating how the body first senses and responds to infections with influenza and other respiratory viruses.
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Key Achievements
Publications
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Patrick has authored more than 135 peer-reviewed publications in leading virology and immunology journals. He is also a leading expert on laboratory capacity building with a focus on initiatives to enhance laboratory-based detection and characterisation of influenza viruses, as well as pandemic planning and preparedness, in the Asia-Pacific Region, and world-wide.
ProjectsLoading ORCID data…Research Groups-
Reading Group
Patrick’s group investigates how the body first detects and responds to respiratory viruses. They investigate viral attachment factors, cellular receptors and entry pathways, virus-induced activation of host genes and the mechanisms by which intracellular host proteins can block virus replication.
Lab Team
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Melkamu TessemaPhD student
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Lara SchwabPhD student
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Harry StannardMasters student
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Fernando Villalon LetelierPhD student
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