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Immunology 102 at poxvirus U: avoiding apoptosis

J L Shisler1, B Moss

  • 1Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 4 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-0445, MSC 0445, USA.

Seminars in Immunology
|April 6, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Poxviruses are complex viruses replicating in the cytoplasm. They encode proteins that inhibit apoptosis, a key host response mechanism, through various signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Poxviruses are large, complex DNA viruses known for cytoplasmic replication.
  • Unlike some viruses, they do not integrate DNA into the host genome or establish latency.
  • Poxviruses possess a sophisticated arsenal of proteins to manipulate host cell processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms by which poxviruses modulate host apoptosis.
  • To identify poxviral proteins involved in inhibiting programmed cell death.
  • To understand how these viral proteins interact with host cell signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of poxviral genomes to identify genes encoding host-modulating proteins.
  • Expression studies of candidate viral proteins in cell culture.
  • Apoptosis assays to assess the effect of viral proteins on programmed cell death induced by various stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Poxviruses encode multiple proteins that actively inhibit apoptosis.
  • These viral proteins interfere with apoptosis triggered by diverse signals, including receptor binding, oxidative stress, UV radiation, and DNA damage.
  • The identified proteins target critical components of host cell death signaling cascades.

Conclusions:

  • Poxviruses possess a robust strategy to evade host-imposed apoptosis, facilitating viral replication and propagation.
  • The viral proteins identified offer insights into fundamental apoptosis regulation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms could inform therapeutic strategies targeting viral infections or apoptosis-related diseases.

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