title: Complement and its role in protection and pathogenesis of flavivirus infections.
abstract: The complement system is a family of serum and cell surface proteins that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, altered-self ligands, and immune complexes. Activation of the complement cascade triggers several antiviral functions including pathogen opsonization and/or lysis, and priming of adaptive immune responses. In this review, we will examine the role of complement activation in protection and/or pathogenesis against infection by Flaviviruses, with an emphasis on experiments with West Nile and Dengue viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States.
authors.forename: Panisadee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avirutnan
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mehlhop
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D003167:Complement Activation; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins