Virus-host Interactions in Early Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic virus that can cause severe viral encephalitis. Initial interactions between JEV and host cells are required for productive viral infection and initiation of the viral life cycle. The elucidation of these interactions is critical, not only to understand the pathogenesis of JEV infection, but also to design efficient antiviral strategies. In this review, we outline the known viral and cellular components involved in JEV entry into host cells, with a particular focus on the initial virus-host cell interaction on the cell surface and the downstream early events such as endocytosis, membrane fusion, and viral genome release.