Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
All is fair in virus-host interactions: NK cells and cytomegalovirus
Marina Babić1, Astrid Krmpotić, Stipan Jonjić
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 20, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Abstract:
The infection of mice with mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a model of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been particularly informative in elucidating the role of innate and adaptive immune response mechanisms during infection. Millions of years of co-evolution between cytomegaloviruses (CMV) and their hosts has resulted in numerous attempts to overwhelm each other. CMVs devote many genes to modulating the host natural killer (NK) cell response and NK cells employ many strategies to cope with CMV infection. While focusing on these attack-counterattack measures, this review will discuss several novel mechanisms of immune evasion by MCMV, the role of Ly49 receptors in mediating resistance to MCMV, and the impact of the initial NK cell response on the shaping of adaptive immunity.
Related Concept Videos
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

