Apoptosis and Necroptosis as Host Defense Strategies to Prevent Viral Infection

Dear Colleagues,

Apoptosis and necroptosis are powerful host defense mechanisms deployed by hosts against viral pathogens. Apoptosis plays a fundamental role in development, immune regulation, tissue homeostasis and viral pathogenesis. Dysregulation of apoptosis is associated with a wide variety of diseases, including immunological and developmental disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In contrast, necroptosis is a lytic and highly inflammatory form of cell death with important antiviral functions.

Numerous viruses have evolved sophisticated immunomodulatory strategies to counter host-cell-innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infection. One such strategy is to prevent host-cell intracellular responses to infections such as host cell apoptosis to counter viral proliferation, with successful blockade of apoptosis allowing establishment of infection. This is often achieved via the expression of direct inhibitors against caspases and mimicry of cellular Bcl-2 proteins to inactivate host pro-apoptotic proteins and block host-cell-intrinsic apoptosis. However, blockade of the proteolytic activity of caspase-8, the initiator caspase of extrinsic apoptosis, greatly sensitizes cells to the induction of necroptosis. Proteins that contain receptor-interacting protein (RIP) homotypic interaction motifs (RHIMs) play central roles in necroptotic signaling. This Special Issue welcomes articles exploring viral–host interactions with an emphasis on biochemical signaling pathways such as apoptosis and necroptosis, subcellular compartmentalization, viral structural organization and cellular structure as it relates to viral infection in battling for control of host cell death checkpoints.

Prof. Dr. Marc Kvansakul
Dr. Chathura Suraweera
Guest Editors

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