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Intercellular junctional proteins as receptors and barriers to virus infection and spread

Jeffrey M Bergelson1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. bergelson@email.chop.edu

Cell Host & Microbe
|June 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Viruses breach host defenses by crossing mucosal barriers and spreading through the body. Some viruses surprisingly use cellular junction proteins as entry points, aiding their dissemination.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Viruses infect hosts through mucosal surfaces (respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital tracts).
  • Viral infection involves overcoming anatomical barriers for dissemination to other organs, often via the bloodstream.
  • Viruses are shed in bodily secretions to infect new hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of intercellular junctions as barriers to virus dissemination.
  • To highlight the paradoxical use of junctional proteins by viruses as receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of viral infection mechanisms.
  • Analysis of viral interactions with intercellular junctional proteins.

Main Results:

  • Intercellular junctions represent significant anatomical barriers to viral spread.
  • Several viruses directly target and utilize junctional proteins as receptors, rather than evading these barriers.
  • This targeting facilitates viral entry and dissemination.

Conclusions:

  • Intercellular junctions play a critical role in controlling virus dissemination.
  • Viral exploitation of junctional proteins represents a key strategy for infection and spread.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing antiviral therapies.

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