Authors: Zakeri, Z. F.; McLean, J. E.; Ruck, A.; Shirazian, A.; Pooyaei-Mehr, F.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 14, Number 3, January 2008 , pp. 198-220(23)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Elucidation of the mechanisms behind cell death has brought with it an appreciation for viral strategies that target these pathways as a means to promote viral propagation while avoiding or slowing the host immune response. Several redundant anti-viral pathways have evolved in eukaryotic cells that are designed to minimize the damage due to viral infection while quickly clearing the invading pathogen. Cell death is a commonly employed immune defense against viral infection, and many viruses potently induce or suppress cell death during infection. The past decade has seen an incredible increase in our understanding of how cell death assists in host immune response, as well as how viruses have evolved to hijack or disengage these systems. By targeting components of host cell death pathways, viruses have developed the ability to control host survival and death, ensuring efficient propagation while inactivating or avoiding the immune system consequences of infection. This review focuses on the most recent and important advances in our understanding of how a wide range of viruses manipulate the survival and death of their hosts.

Keywords: Virus; cell death; apoptosis; autophagy; immunity; host; host response

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208783413329

Affiliations: 1: President of the International Cell Death Society, MARC U-Star Program Director, Queens College of City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing New York,NY, 11367.

Publication date: 2008-01-01

More about this publication?

• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

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