Innate immune viral recognition: relevance to CNS infections

Abstract

Innate immune responses mediated by mononuclear phagocytes represent the initial host response to acute viral infection. PRRs, including TLRs, retinoic RLRs,and NOD-like receptors, recognize viral nucleic acid and localized injury signals to initiate proinflammatory responses and activation of adaptive immunity. These responses are host- and viral-dependent. Neurotropic viruses, such as HSV, West Nile virus, and HIV activate and evade innate immune signaling mechanisms by distinct mechanisms. These highly complex pathogen-host interactions determine establishment of infection, severity of clinical disease, development of chronic inflammatory processes, and success of vaccination strategies.

Keywords: CNS infection; encephalitis; innate immunity; macrophage; meningitis; microglia.