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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

In Vitro Analysis of Myd88-mediated Cellular Immune Response to West Nile Virus Mutant Strain Infection
Published on: November 27, 2014
MyD88 protects from lethal encephalitis during infection with vesicular stomatitis virus
Karl S Lang1, Alexander A Navarini, Mike Recher
1Institutes of Experimental Immunology, Neuropathology and Surgical Pathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. karl.lang@usz.ch
Abstract:
MyD88 is a key adaptor molecule in innate resistance, engaged in most Toll-like receptor, as well as IL-1 and IL-18, signalling. Here, we analyzed the role of MyD88 in innate resistance during infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) using myd88(-/-) mice. We found an increased susceptibility to VSV in myd88(-/-) mice, which was not explained by reduced type I IFN or neutralizing antibody responses. Susceptibility of myd88(-/-) mice correlated with impaired recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection. In the absence of MyD88 signalling, VSV rapidly spread to the spinal cord and brain causing lethal encephalitis.
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