Interferons and viruses: an evolutionary arms race of molecular interactions. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Over half a century has passed since interferons (IFNs) were discovered and shown to inhibit virus infection in cultured cells. Since then, researchers have steadily brought to light the molecular details of IFN signaling, catalogued their pleiotropic effects on cells, and harnessed their therapeutic potential for a variety of maladies. While advances have been plentiful, several fundamental questions have yet to be answered and much complexity remains to be unraveled. We explore the current knowledge surrounding four main questions: are type I IFN subtypes differentially produced in response to distinct pathogens? How are IFN subtypes distinguished by cells? What are the mechanisms and consequences of viral antagonism? Lastly, how can the IFN response be harnessed to improve vaccine efficacy?

publication date

  • February 20, 2015

Research

keywords

  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Type I
  • Interleukins
  • Lymphocytes
  • Viruses

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4384471

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84924170901

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.it.2015.01.002

PubMed ID

  • 25704559

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 36

issue

  • 3