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Viruses use stealth technology to escape from the host immune system
E J Wiertz1, S Mukherjee, H L Ploegh
1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
Molecular Medicine Today
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Viruses use complex strategies to evade the immune system, particularly persistent viruses like herpes simplex virus. Understanding these viral evasion mechanisms can lead to new antiviral drugs and vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Viruses have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to evade host immune responses.
- Persistent viral infections pose significant challenges to public health.
- Understanding viral evasion is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent investigations on viral immune evasion strategies.
- To focus on the evasion mechanisms of five persistent viruses: herpes simplex virus, human cytomegalovirus, mouse cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenovirus.
- To identify potential targets for novel antiviral therapies and vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific investigations.
- Analysis of documented viral immune evasion strategies.
- Focus on specific persistent viral pathogens.
Main Results:
- Viruses employ diverse and novel mechanisms to avoid immune detection and elimination.
- Specific evasion strategies of herpes simplex virus, human cytomegalovirus, mouse cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenovirus are detailed.
- Viral exploitation of host cell biology is a key aspect of persistence.
Conclusions:
- Unraveling viral evasion strategies offers opportunities for new antiviral drug development.
- Understanding these mechanisms can inform the design of improved vaccines.
- Studying viral persistence may reveal fundamental biological processes in uninfected cells.