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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Interaction between viral proteins and hosts and its disturbance in the cellular responses to ionising radiation
Ping-Kun Zhou1, Yi Sun, Jing An
1The Department of Radiation Toxicology and Oncology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, P. R. China. zhoupk@nic.bmi.ac.cn
Purpose:
Human malignant tumours are frequently found to be infected with a variety of viruses. The interaction of virus-encoded proteins with host cells proteins is highlighted in connection with the effect of viral proteins on DNA damage signalling and its impact on the sensitivity of cancer cells to ionising radiation.
Conclusion:
The interaction of virus-encoded proteins with host cells not only plays an important role in viral infection and the consequential pathogenesis, but may also have an influence on the response of infected cancers to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A series of viral proteins have already been demonstrated to interact with host proteins that are associated with cellular responses to DNA double-strand breaks, including DNA repair, apoptosis and cell cycle checkpoints, and this interaction results in mislocalisation, degradation, inactivation or activation of these host proteins. Some others directly or indirectly regulate the transcriptional level of a number of host genes or post-transcriptional modification of host proteins responding to ionising radiation, which leads to accumulation or downregulation of these gene products. These interactions between viral proteins and the hosts contribute to some extent to altered cellular radiosensitivity. Fully and accurately understanding the biological significance of viral infection to radiation will promote the future development of individualised strategies of cancer radiotherapy.
Insights
Viral proteins interacting with host cells can alter cancer cells
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- Human malignant tumors frequently exhibit viral infections.
- Viral oncoproteins can interfere with host cell processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of virus-encoded proteins on DNA damage signaling.
- To understand how viral proteins affect cancer cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of viral protein interactions with host cell proteins.
- Examination of effects on DNA damage response pathways.
- Assessment of changes in cancer cell radiosensitivity.
Main Results:
- Viral proteins interact with host proteins involved in DNA repair, apoptosis, and cell cycle checkpoints.
- These interactions lead to altered host protein function and gene expression.
- Viral protein-host interactions contribute to modified cancer cell radiosensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Virus-host protein interactions influence cancer cell response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing personalized cancer treatment strategies.
- Targeting viral-host interactions may enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy.
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