[Slow virus infections of the central nervous system]

The major slow viral infections discovered in man manifest themselves in chronic neurological disease. Studies of these diseases have allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms of virus persistence in the central nervous system. Findings are summarized from recent investigations on such slow viral infections as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and the spongiform encephalopathies. From the examples presented it is evident that there is a great diversity of virus-host interactions in slow viral infections of the central nervous system.