Modulation of innate immune responses by virus-host interactions in Orthoflavivirus

Orthoflavivirus are single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses that pose a significant threat to human and animal health globally, accounting for more than 400 million infections annually. They are predominantly transmitted by arthropods and cause a plethora of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild self-limiting infections to lethal encephalitis, with the potential to cause epidemics and pandemics. The complication in effectively treating Orthoflavivirus infections stems from the intricate interactions between virus and host proteins. A prominent hallmark of Orthoflavivirus infection is the use of sophisticated strategies to cleverly evade and dampen the host's innate immune response, which is a vital defence mechanism against viral invasion. This review provides substantial information on the mechanism of virus hijacking key components of the host immune response, featuring physical interactions between viral and host protein components, in the light of the innate immune system. Understanding and targeting these complex interactions would be instrumental in discovering novel antivirals against these viruses.