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Related Concept Videos

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
10:00

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Interferon-lambda: a new addition to an old family.

Raymond P Donnelly1, Sergei V Kotenko

  • 1Division of Therapeutic Proteins, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research , Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. raymond.donnelly@fda.hhs.gov

Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research : the Official Journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research
|August 18, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Interferon-lambda (IFN-lambda) is a type III interferon with antiviral properties similar to type I IFNs. Its unique receptor signaling and epithelial cell restriction suggest potential therapeutic applications in viral infections and cancer.

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Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array Digital Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Human Interferon-α
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Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses
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Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Published on: November 16, 2016

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
10:00

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array Digital Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Human Interferon-α
08:26

Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array Digital Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Human Interferon-α

Published on: June 14, 2018

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses
10:10

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Published on: November 16, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The interferon-lambda (IFN-lambda) family, discovered in 2003, comprises three related proteins (IFN-lambda1, -lambda2, -lambda3), also known as IL-29, IL-28A, and IL-28B.
  • These cytokines constitute the type III interferons, distinct from type I and type II interferons due to their unique heterodimeric receptor complex.
  • Despite distinct receptors, type III IFNs share signaling pathways and biological activities, including antiviral effects, with type I IFNs (IFN-alpha/beta).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the characteristics and biological activities of the interferon-lambda family.
  • To compare the signaling and functional properties of type III IFNs with type I and type II IFNs.
  • To explore the potential clinical applications of IFN-lambda as an antiviral and anti-cancer therapeutic agent.

Main Methods:

  • Gene and protein identification of the IFN-lambda family.
  • Analysis of receptor usage and intracellular signaling pathways.
  • Assessment of antiviral activity in various cell types.
  • Investigation of IFN-lambda gene and protein expression patterns.

Main Results:

  • IFN-lambda proteins exhibit significant similarity to type I IFNs in their antiviral activities.
  • IFN-lambda signals through a distinct receptor complex, primarily expressed on epithelial cells.
  • Expression of IFN-lambda genes is inducible by viral infections.
  • Preclinical studies suggest therapeutic potential in viral diseases and certain cancers.

Conclusions:

  • IFN-lambda represents a distinct class of interferons with potent antiviral functions.
  • The restricted expression of IFN-lambda receptors on epithelial cells differentiates them from broadly expressed type I IFN receptors.
  • IFN-lambda holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for viral infections and potentially for cancer treatment.