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Updated: May 21, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Budding of Enveloped Viruses: Interferon-Induced ISG15-Antivirus Mechanisms Targeting the Release Process
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ward 4-065, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Abstract:
Pathogenic strains of viruses that infect humans are encapsulated in membranes derived from the host cell in which they infect. After replication, these viruses are released by a budding process that requires cell/viral membrane scission. As such, this represents a natural target for innate immunity mechanisms to interdict enveloped virus spread and recent advances in this field will be the subject of this paper.
Insights
Pathogenic viruses use host cell membranes for replication and release via budding. Innate immunity targets this viral membrane scission process to prevent the spread of enveloped viruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Pathogenic viruses infecting humans acquire an outer membrane from the host cell.
- Viral replication concludes with a budding process, necessitating host-viral membrane scission for release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding how innate immunity targets the membrane scission process during enveloped virus release.
Main Methods:
- This paper reviews current literature and research findings.
- Focuses on the mechanisms of innate immune surveillance and intervention.
Main Results:
- Membrane scission is a critical, yet vulnerable, step in the enveloped virus life cycle.
- Innate immunity has evolved mechanisms to recognize and disrupt this process, limiting viral spread.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the cell/viral membrane scission event is a promising strategy for controlling enveloped virus infections.
- Further research into these innate immune mechanisms could lead to novel antiviral therapies.
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