In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 6 ( 2017-02-10)
Abstract:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of eight herpesviruses that can infect humans. Most people will at some point become infected with CMV, yet the virus tends only to cause serious disease in people whose immune system is not working properly. Individuals living with HIV/AIDS and organ transplant recipients (who have to take drugs that suppress their immune system to prevent the organ being rejected) are particularly vulnerable to CMV infections. Critically, the virus can cross the placenta to infect of the foetus. CMV infection in the womb can cause miscarriage, lead to severe developmental problems in babies and is a major cause of deafness. Herpesvirus infections are for life. While the immune system cannot eliminate CMV, it does have many systems that combine to sense and control infections. Natural killer cells are known to play a critical role in detecting and destroying cells infected with CMV. The virus, in turn, has nine genes that help to protect it against natural killer cells. This includes two genes that belong to a group of similar genes called the US12 family, but it is not clear whether other members of this gene family also provide protection against natural killer cells. Fielding et al. now show that at least four members of the US12 gene family help CMV to evade natural killer cells. For example, two members work together to target a human protein called B7-H6 that acts a sensor to alert natural killer cells if a particular cell is infected. However, the impact of the US12 family goes even wider. The whole family works together to control proteins that are found on the surface of human cells, and many of these proteins appear to be involved in regulating the immune response. The findings of Fielding et al. provide an insight into how the US12 gene family works, and how CMV has evolved to escape the human immune system. New therapies to control CMV infections are urgently needed so the next challenge is to design new antiviral agents that will target CMV’s defence systems.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.015
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.016
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.018
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.019
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.022
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.22206.023
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3
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