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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
Viral tricks to grid-lock the type I interferon system
Gijs A Versteeg1, Adolfo García-Sastre
1Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|June 12, 2010
Summary
Viruses counteract the immune system by producing interferon (IFN) antagonists. Understanding these viral evasion strategies, particularly the four main mechanisms, aids in developing new antiviral therapies and live vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Type I interferons (IFNs) are critical for innate immunity against viral infections.
- Most viruses encode interferon antagonists to evade immune responses.
- Over 170 viral IFN antagonists from 93 viruses are known, indicating widespread interference with the IFN system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms employed by viral interferon antagonists.
- To highlight the significance of understanding viral evasion strategies.
- To discuss the therapeutic and vaccine development implications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of identified viral IFN antagonists and their mechanisms.
- Analysis of the four primary strategies viruses use to counteract IFN responses.
- Discussion of the translation of this knowledge into vaccine and therapeutic development.
Main Results:
- Viruses employ diverse strategies to antagonize the IFN system.
- Four main mechanisms are used: inhibition of gene expression, sequestration, proteolytic cleavage, and proteasomal degradation.
- Most viruses interfere with multiple stages of the IFN response.
Conclusions:
- Understanding viral IFN antagonists is key to combating viral infections.
- Mutant viral IFN antagonists show promise as live vaccine candidates.
- IFN antagonists represent viable targets for small-molecule antiviral drug development.
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