Prof. Jincun Zhao delivered a seminar on May 30, 2023, where he discussed the importance of interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) in controlling respiratory viral infections. Through transcriptomic profiling and single-cell RNA sequencing, the study identified O-GalNAc transferases 2 (GALNT2) as a crucial factor in viral clearance and disease severity reduction. The research further revealed that GALNT2 controls the replication of coronaviruses and influenza A viruses both in vitro and in vivo by regulating the glycosylation of surface proteins, consequently affecting viral activation, assembly, and egress. This highlights the vital role of GALNT2-based broad-spectrum antiviral defense in managing respiratory virus infections.