Colpitts | Biomedical and Molecular Sciences | School of Medicine

Che Colpitts PhD

Position(s)

Associate Professor

Contact Info

che.colpitts@queensu.ca

Botterell Hall, Room 714

613-533-2980

Academic Experience

2017 – 2019: Research Associate, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, UK
2014 – 2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Viral and Liver Disease, University of Strasbourg, France
2009 – 2014: PhD in Virology, University of Alberta, Canada
2007 – 2009: MSc in Biochemistry, University of Regina, Canada
2003 – 2007: BSc in Biochemistry, University of Regina, Canada

Research Interests

Our lab focuses on RNA virus-host interactions. We work on a variety of RNA viruses, including hepatitis C virus (HCV), dengue virus, coronaviruses (CoVs) and influenza A virus. Some of our current research interests are below:

Roles of viral glycoproteins in entry and pathogenesis

Viral glycoproteins, such as coronavirus spike and influenza hemagglutinin, mediate entry of these viruses into their target cells, often through interaction with cell surface sugars (glycans) and specific protein receptors. We showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection requires sialic acid for entry via endocytosis, but not at the cell surface (Siwak & LeBlanc et al. (2024) PLoS Pathog.). We are currently investigating the cell entry mechanisms, and potential receptors, of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype, which has recently been spreading in mammals and poses a significant pandemic risk. Several viral glycoproteins have been shown to activate the pattern recognition receptor TLR4, triggering induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and contributing to the ‘cytokine storm’ that is associated with severe viral disease (Halajian & LeBlanc et al. (2022) Front. Microbiol.). We are currently characterizing the viral and cellular determinants that are required for TLR4 activation by viral glycoproteins, which could inform new therapeutic strategies to counteract viral cytokine storm.

Broad-spectrum host-targeting antivirals

Cyclosporine A (CsA) and thapsigargin (Tg) are naturally occurring molecules that have broad-spectrum activity against a diverse array of viruses. We are characterizing the antiviral mechanism(s) of these molecules against RNA virus infections (HCV, dengue virus, common cold coronaviruses, and influenza A virus). Interestingly, CsA and Tg have several shared features, in that they both induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, disrupt calcium signaling, modulate cellular lipid metabolism, and prime enhanced antiviral immune responses in infected cells. We are investigating the role of these pathways in the broad antiviral activity of CsA (e.g., Mamatis et al. (2023) Antiviral Res.) and Tg (e.g., Pellizzari-Delano et al. (2026) RSC Chem. Biol.; Tooley et al. (2026) bioRxiv) and characterizing the underlying mechanisms.

Modulation of host responses during RNA virus infection

A current focus is on the regulation of cell stress responses by various RNA viruses. ER stress leads to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), comprised of three pathways (ATF6, IRE1 and PERK) that function to restore ER homeostasis through diverse mechanisms. RNA virus infection also activates protein kinase R (PKR), a key player in the integrated stress response that leads to translational halt and upregulates antiviral signaling pathways. We are currently studying how viral proteins regulate or antagonize PERK and PKR to promote viral infection. Finally, we are investigating how viral antagonism of stress and antiviral responses restricts or enables spread in a new host species (e.g., H5N1 avian influenza) to inform our understanding of zoonotic spillover.

Please see www.colpittslab.com for more details on our research.

Selected Publications

Pellizzari-Delano IE, Tooley TH, Mondal D, Jani K, Gallardo-Flores CE and Colpitts CC# (2026) Chemical modulation of the unfolded protein response reveals an antiviral role for the PERK pathway in human coronavirus 229E infection. RSC Chemical Biology 7(4):708-723
Baid K, Shrivastava S, Luc J, Richard D, Aguiar JA, Machado Y, Aicher S-M, Siwak KC, LeBlanc EV, Khatooni Z, Lokugamage KG, Vu MN, Morgan A, Chiok KR, Nguyen HT, Stacey HD, Scruten E, Prysliak T, Yim W, McArthur AG, Miller MS, Wilson HL, Capellini T, Faure PA, Liu A, Mubareka S, Menachery VD, Mossman K, Müller MA, Drosten C, Colpitts CC#, Jouvenet N, Overall CM, Doxey AC and Banerjee A (2025) Early innate immune response and evolution of a SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site inactive variant in bats. Cell Reports 44(7):115929
Stegeman S, Amsden H, Pellizzari-Delano IE, Kourko O, Mamatis JE, Roth M, Colpitts CC# and Gee K. (2025) RNA viruses, TLRs, and cytokines: The perfect storm? Journal of Innate Immunity 17(1): 126-153
Siwak KC&, LeBlanc EV&, Scott HM, Kim Y, Pellizzari-Delano I, Ball AM, Temperton NJ, Capicciotti CJ and Colpitts CC# (2024) Cellular sialoglycans are differentially required for endosomal and cell-surface entry of SARS-CoV-2 in lung cell lines. PLoS Pathogens 20(12):e1012365 (&co-first author)
Colpitts CC# and Baumert TF (2024) Fine-tuning of hepatitis C virus immune evasion through hypervariable region 1 insertions. Hepatology 82(1): 22-24
Persaud AT, Khela J, Fernandes C, Chaphekar D, Burnie J, Tang VA, Colpitts CC# and Guzzo C (2024) Virion-incorporated CD14 enables HIV-1 to bind LPS and initiate TLR4 signaling in immune cells. Journal of Virology: e0036324 [Editor’s Pick]
Mamatis JE, Gallardo-Flores CE, Sangwan U, Tooley T, Walsh T, and Colpitts CC (2023) Induction of antiviral gene expression by cyclosporine A, but not inhibition of cyclophilin A or B, contributes to its restriction of human coronavirus 229E infection in a lung epithelial cell line. Antiviral Research 219: 105730 (IF 10.1)
Banting H, Goode I, Gallardo-Flores CE, Colpitts CC and Saavedra CE (2023) Electromagnetic deactivation spectroscopy of human coronavirus 229E. Scientific Reports 13: 8886
Jagoda E, Marnetto D, Senevirathne G, Gonzalez V, Baid K, Montinaro F, Richard D, Falzarano D, LeBlanc EV, Colpitts CC, Banerjee A, Pagani L and Capellini TD (2023) Regulatory dissection of the severe COVID-19 risk locus introgressed by Neanderthals. eLife 12: e71235
Archer SL, Dasgupta A, Chen K-H, Wu D, Baid K, Mamatis JE, Gonzalez V, Read A, Bentley RET, Martin AY, Mewburn JD, Dunham-Snary KJ, Evans G, Levy G, Jones O, Al-Qazazi R, Ring B, Alizadeh E, Hindmarch CCT, Rossi J, Lima PDA, Falzarano D, Banerjee A and Colpitts CC (2022) SARS-CoV-2 mitochondriopathy in COVID-19 pneumonia exacerbates hypoxemia. Redox Biology 58: 102508 (IF 11.8)
Halajian E, LeBlanc EV, Gee K and Colpitts CC (2022) Activation of TLR4 by viral glycoproteins: A double-edged sword? Front. Microbiol. 13: 1007081
LeBlanc EV and Colpitts CC (2022) The green tea catechin EGCG provides proof-of-concept for a pan-coronavirus entry inhibitor. Scientific Reports 12: 12899
Mamatis JE, Pellizzari-Delano IE, Gallardo-Flores CE and Colpitts CC (2022) Emerging roles of cyclophilin A in regulating viral cloaking. Front. Microbiol. 13: 828078
LeBlanc EV and Colpitts CC. (2021) SARS-CoV-2 RNA: Exclusive friends and common foes. Cell 184(9): 2276-2278
Gallardo-Flores CE and Colpitts CC. (2021) Cyclophilins and their roles in hepatitis C virus and flavivirus infections: Perspectives for novel antiviral approaches. Pathogens 10(7): 902
LeBlanc EV, Kim Y, Capicciotti CJ and Colpitts CC. (2021) Hepatitis C virus glycan-dependent interactions and the potential for novel preventative strategies. Pathogens 10: 685
LeBlanc EV and Colpitts CC. (2021) A dual antibody test for accurate surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 exposure rates. Cell Reports Medicine 2(3):100223
Colpitts CC*, Ridewood S, Schneiderman B, Warne J, Tabata K, Ng CF, Bartenschlager R, Selwood D and Towers GJ*. (2020) Hepatitis C virus exploits cyclophilin A to evade PKR. eLife 9:e52237 (*co-corresponding author)
Eller C, Heydmann L, Colpitts CC, El Saghire H, Piccioni F, Jühling F, Mazjoub K, Pons C, Bach C, Lucifora J, Lupberger J, Nassal M, Cowley GS, Fujiwara N, Hsieh SY, Hoshida Y, Felli E, Pessaux P, Sureau C, Schuster C, Root DE, Verrier ER and Baumert TF. (2020) A genome-wide gain-of-function screen identifies CDKN2C as a HBV host factor. Nat. Comm. 11:2707
Colpitts CC, Tsai P-L and Zeisel MB. (2020) Hepatitis C virus entry: An intriguingly complex and highly regulated process. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21: pii:E20190
Olbrich A, Wardemann J, Böhm S, Rother K, Colpitts CC, Wrensch F, Baumert TF, Berg T and Beckert J. (2019) Repertoire and neutralizing activity of antibodies against E2 peptide in patients with spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C. J. Infect. Dis. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz274.
Colpitts CC, Tawar RG, Mailly L, Thumann C, Heydmann L, Durand SC, Xiao F, Pessaux P, Zeisel MB and Baumert TF (2018) Humanisation of a claudin-1-specific monoclonal antibody for clinical prevention and cure of HCV infection without escape. Gut doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312577
Eller C, Heydmann L, Colpitts CC, Verrier ER, Schuster C and Baumert TF (2018) The functional role of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide NTCP in the life cycle of hepatitis B, C and D viruses. Cell. Mol. Life Sci.71:3895-3905
Behrendt P, Perin P, Menzel N, Banda D, Pfaender S, Alves MP, Thiel V, Meulemann P, Colpitts CC, Schang LM, Vondran FWR, Kusuma A, Manns MP, Steinmann E and Pietschmann T (2017) Pentagalloylglucose, a highly bioavailable polyphenolic compound present in Cortex moutan, efficiently blocks hepatitis C virus entry. Antiviral Res. 147:19-28
Colpitts CC and Baumert TF (2017) SMAD about hepatitis C virus cell entry and liver disease. Gastroenterology 152:21-23
Verrier ER#, Colpitts CC#, Bach C, Heydmann L, Zona L, Xiao F, Thumann C, Crouchet E, Gaudin R, Sureau C, Cosset FL, McKeating JA, Pessaux P, Hoshida Y, Schuster C, Zeisel MB and Baumert TF (2016) Solute carrier NTCP regulates innate antiviral immune responses targeting hepatitis C virus infection of hepatocytes. Cell Reports 17:1357-1368 (#equal contribution)
Verrier ER, Colpitts CC, Bach C, Heydmann L, Weiss A, Renaud M, Durand SC, Habersetzer F, Durantel D, Abou-Jaoudé G, López Ledesma MM, Felmlee DJ, Soumillon M, Croonenborghs T, Pochet N, Nassal M, Schuster C, Brino L, Sureau C, Zeisel MB and Baumert TF (2016) A targeted functional RNAi screen uncovers glypican 5 as an entry factor for hepatitis B and D viruses. Hepatology 63:35-48
Colpitts CC, Lupberger J and Baumert TF (2016) Multifaceted role of E-cadherin in hepatitis C virus infection and pathogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113:7298-300
Colpitts CC and Baumert TF (2016) Addressing the challenges of hepatitis C virus resistance and treatment failure. Viruses doi: 10 3390/v8080226
Fauvelle C, Colpitts CC, Keck Z, Pierce BG, Foung SKH and Baumert TF (2016) Hepatitis C virus B cell vaccines inducing protective neutralizing antibodies. Expert Rev. Vaccines doi:10 1080/14760584 2016 1194759
Tawar RG, Colpitts CC, Timm J, Fehm T, Roggendorf M, Meisel H, Meyer N, Habersetzer F, Cosset FL, Berg T, Zeisel MB and Baumert TF (2015) Acute hepatitis C virus infection induces anti-host cell receptor antibodies with virus-neutralizing properties. Hepatology 62:726-36
Kusuma A, Romero-Brey I, Berger C, Colpitts CC, Boldanova T, Engelmann M, Todt D, Perin PM, Behrendt P, Vondran FW, Xu S, Goffinet C, Schang LM, Heim MH, Bartenschlager R, Pietschmann T and Steinmann E (2015) Interferon-inducible cholesterol-25-hydroxylase restricts hepatitis C virus replication via blockage of membranous web formation. Hepatology 62:702-14
Colpitts CC and Baumert TF (2015) A new HCV cell culture model for the next clinical challenges. Nat. Rev. Gastro. Hepatol. 12:611-13
Colpitts CC, El-Saghire H, Pochet N, Schuster C and Baumert TF (2015) High-throughput approaches to unravel hepatitis C virus-host interactions. Virus Res. 218: 18-24
Colpitts CC, Verrier ER and Baumert TF (2015) Targeting viral entry for treatment of hepatitis B and C virus infections. ACS Infect. Dis. 1:420-427
Colpitts CC, Lupberger J, Doerig C and Baumert TF (2015) Host cell kinases and the hepatitis C virus life cycle. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Proteins Proteom. 1854:1657-62
Colpitts CC, Zeisel MB and Baumert TF (2015) When one receptor closes, another opens: Claudins and the hepatitis C virus E1 glycoprotein. Hepatology 62:991-3
Colpitts CC and Schang LM (2014) A small molecule inhibits virion attachment to heparan sulfate- or sialic acid-containing glycans. J. Virol. 88:7806-17
Kusuma A, Colpitts CC, Schang LM, Rachmawati H, Frentzen A, Pfaender S, Behrendt P, Brown RJP, Bankwitz D, Steinmann J, Ott M, Meuleman P, Rice CM, Ploss A, Pietschmann T and Steinmann E (2014) Turmeric curcumin inhibits entry of all hepatitis C virus genotypes into human liver cells. Gut 63:1137-49
Colpitts CC, Ustinov AV, Epand RF, Epand RM, Korshun VA and Schang LM (2013) 5-(Perylen-3-yl)ethynyl-arabino-uridine (aUY11), an arabino-based rigid amphipathic fusion inhibitor, targets virion envelope lipids to inhibit fusion of influenza, hepatitis C and other enveloped viruses. J. Virol. 87(7): 3640-54
Ciesek S, von Hahn T, Colpitts CC, Schang LM, Friesland M, Steinmann J, Manns MP, Ott M, Wedermeyer H, Meuleman P, Pietschmann T and Steinmann E (2011) The green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry. Hepatology 54:1947-55
St Vincent MR, Colpitts CC, Ustinov AV, Muqadas M, Joyce MA, Barsby NL, Epand RF, Epand RM, Khramyshev SA, Valueva OA, Korshun VA, Tyrrell DLJ and Schang LM (2010) Rigid amphipathic fusion inhibitors, small molecule antiviral compounds against enveloped viruses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107:17339-44

Team

Academic Experience

Research Interests

Selected Publications

Faculty