title: Viral sensors: diversity in pathogen recognition.
abstract: Innate sensors of viral infection detect viral products and initiate the signal cascades that lead to the antiviral response. Several proteins have been identified to play a role in this process, mostly members of the Toll-like receptor and retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor families. These receptors have been demonstrated to function in part by recognizing a diverse yet unique repertoire of nucleic acid substrates. Upon recognition of their ligands, these sensors activate distinct signaling pathways that lead to the secretion of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines. It remains to be seen, however, if these sensors are redundant or whether each serves a unique function. In this work, we review the current knowledge of viral sensors, speculate on how they may function in vivo, and explore the potential reasons for their diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000502:physiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C118348:Robo3 protein, mouse; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins