Protein–lipid interactions critical to replication of the influenza A virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) assembles on the plasma membrane where viral proteins localize to form a bud encompassing the viral genome, which ultimately pinches off to give rise to newly formed infectious virions. Upon entry, the virus faces the opposite task—fusion with the endosomal membrane and disassembly to deliver the viral genome to the cytoplasm. There are at least four influenza proteins—hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix 1 protein (M1), and the M2 ion channel—that are known to directly interact with the cellular membrane and modify membrane curvature in order to both assemble and disassemble membrane‐enveloped virions. Here, we summarize and discuss current knowledge of the interactions of lipids and membrane proteins involved in the IAV replication cycle.