title: Myxoma virus in the European rabbit: interactions between the virus and its susceptible host.
abstract: Myxoma virus (MV) is a poxvirus that evolved in Sylvilagus lagomorphs, and is the causative agent of myxomatosis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). This virus is not a natural pathogen of O. cuniculus, yet is able to subvert the host rabbit immune system defenses and cause a highly lethal systemic infection. The interaction of MV proteins and the rabbit immune system has been an ideal model to help elucidate host/poxvirus interactions, and has led to a greater understanding of how other poxvirus pathogens are able to cause disease in their respective hosts. This review will examine how MV causes myxomatosis, by examining a selection of the identified immunomodulatory proteins that this virus expresses to subvert the immune and inflammatory pathways of infected rabbit hosts.
authors.affiliation: Biotherapeutics Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, Siebens-Drake Building, Room 126, 1400 Western Road, London, Ontario, N6G 2V4, Canada.
authors.forename: Marianne M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Werden
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McFadden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009234:Myxomatosis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000821:virology*