title: Viruses exploit the tissue physiology of the host to spread in vivo.
abstract: Viruses are pathogens that strictly depend on their host for propagation. Over years of co-evolution viruses have become experts in exploiting the host cell biology and physiology to ensure efficient replication and spread. Here, we will first summarize the concepts that have emerged from in vitro cell culture studies to understand virus spread. We will then review the results from studies in living animals that reveal how viruses exploit the natural flow of body fluids, specific tissue architecture, and patterns of cell circulation and migration to spread within the host. Understanding tissue physiology will be critical for the design of antiviral strategies that prevent virus dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Department of Virology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Xaver
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sewald
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Department of Virology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address: walther.mothes@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Walther
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mothes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D054992:Immunological Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication; D014780:Viruses / Q000378:metabolism*