title: Human metapneumovirus antagonism of innate  immune responses.
abstract: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently identified RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family, which includes several major human and animal pathogens. Epidemiological studies indicate that hMPV is a significant human respiratory pathogen with worldwide distribution. It is associated with respiratory illnesses in children, adults, and immunocompromised patients, ranging from upper respiratory tract infections to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Interferon (IFN) represents a major line of defense against virus infection, and in response, viruses have evolved countermeasures to inhibit IFN production as well as IFN signaling. Although the strategies of IFN evasion are similar, the specific mechanisms by which paramyxoviruses inhibit IFN responses are quite diverse. In this review, we will present an overview of the strategies that hMPV uses to subvert cellular signaling in airway epithelial cells, the major target of infection, as well as in primary immune cells.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, USA. dekolli@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Deepthi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kolli
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casola
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D007372:Interferons