Genetic analysis of resistance to viral infection.
As machines that reprogramme eukaryotic cells to suit their own purposes, viruses present a difficult problem for multicellular hosts, and indeed, have become one of the central pre-occupations of the immune system. Unable to permanently outpace individual viruses in an evolutionary footrace, higher eukaryotes have evolved broadly active mechanisms with which to sense viruses and suppress their proliferation. These mechanisms have recently been elucidated by a combination of forward and reverse genetic methods. Some of these mechanisms are clearly ancient, whereas others are relatively new. All are remarkably adept at discriminating self from non-self, and allow the host to cope with what might seem an impossible predicament.
Beutler
Bruce
B
Department of Genetics, The Scripps Research Institute, IMM-3-1, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. bruce@scripps.edu
Eidenschenk
Celine
C
Crozat
Karine
K
Imler
Jean-Luc
JL
Takeuchi
Osamu
O
Hoffmann
Jules A
JA
Akira
Shizuo
S
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D000998:Antiviral Agents