A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 9 Domain (ADAM9) Is a Major Susceptibility Factor in the Early Stages of Encephalomyocarditis Virus Infection

Viral myocarditis is a leading cause of death in the United States, contributing to numerous unexplained deaths in people 35 years old. Enteroviruses contribute to many cases of human myocarditis. Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection causes viral myocarditis in rodent models, but its receptor requirements have not been fully identified. CRISPR-Cas9 screens can identify host dependency factors essential for EMCV infection and enhance our understanding of key events that follow viral infection, potentially leading to new strategies for preventing viral myocarditis. Using a CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identified a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 9 domain (ADAM9) as a major factor required for the early stages of EMCV infection in both human and murine infection.