Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026
06:02
Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
7.4K
Viral interferon antagonism shapes host tropism
Felix Streicher1,2, Amandine Chantharath1,3, Nolwenn Jouvenet1
1Virus Sensing and Signaling Unit, Institut Pasteur Paris, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France.
Plos Pathogens
|October 7, 2025
Summary
Understanding how viruses cross species barriers is crucial for pandemic preparedness. This review explores how viral interactions with the interferon (IFN) response create these barriers, highlighting new research approaches.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Zoonotic virus outbreaks underscore the need to understand viral host tropism and interspecies transmission.
- Viral host range depends on host factors for entry/replication and the virus's ability to evade host immunity.
- The interferon (IFN) response is a critical antiviral defense mechanism rapidly activated during infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how species-specific interactions between viruses and the IFN response create interspecies transmission barriers.
- To discuss novel approaches for studying viral sensitivity to IFN responses across species.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on viral host interactions and IFN evasion strategies.
- Illustrative examples of species-specific virus-IFN interactions.
- Discussion of cellular models from reservoir hosts and machine learning (ML) approaches.
Main Results:
- Species-specific interactions with the IFN response are key determinants of viral interspecies barriers.
- Viruses evolve diverse strategies to overcome IFN-mediated immunity.
- Cellular models and ML offer promising avenues for understanding species-specific viral sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding species-specific viral sensitivity to IFN is essential for predicting and preventing zoonotic spillover.
- Development of advanced cellular models and computational approaches are vital for pandemic preparedness.
- Targeting viral evasion of IFN responses could be a strategy for controlling emerging infectious diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
1.7K
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
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...
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...
1.7K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
818
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
818
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
682
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
682
02:33Retroviruses
14.6K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
14.6K
00:56Viral Structure
73.8K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
73.8K
01:29Subviral Agents
522
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
522