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Review
. 2023 Jun 15;136(12):jcs260682.
doi: 10.1242/jcs.260682. Epub 2023 Jun 21.

Viral evasion of the interferon response at a glance

Junji Zhu  1 , Cindy Chiang  1 , Michaela U Gack  1
Affiliations
Review

Viral evasion of the interferon response at a glance

Junji Zhu et al. J Cell Sci. .

Abstract

Re-emerging and new viral pathogens have caused significant morbidity and mortality around the world, as evidenced by the recent monkeypox, Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Successful viral infection relies on tactical viral strategies to derail or antagonize host innate immune defenses, in particular the production of type I interferons (IFNs) by infected cells. Viruses can thwart intracellular sensing systems that elicit IFN gene expression (that is, RIG-I-like receptors and the cGAS-STING axis) or obstruct signaling elicited by IFNs. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review the current knowledge about the major mechanisms employed by viruses to inhibit the activity of intracellular pattern-recognition receptors and their downstream signaling cascades leading to IFN-based antiviral host defenses. Advancing our understanding of viral immune evasion might spur unprecedented opportunities to develop new antiviral compounds or vaccines to prevent viral infectious diseases.

Keywords: Innate immunity; Interferon; Intracellular sensors; Viral evasion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests.

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