Viral Subversion of Transcriptional Control

Dear Colleagues,

Transcriptional control in eukaryotic cells is incredibly complex and comprises a level of regulation that is critical for virtually every cellular process. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and many rely heavily on the host cell transcriptional apparatus to express their own genes. These viruses often encode proteins that divert the cellular transcriptional machinery to viral templates. In addition, some viruses encode factors that globally repress the transcription of cellular genes, which serves to maximize resources for virus progeny production. More frequently, viruses encode factors that selectively antagonize or promote the transcription of various classes of cellular genes, with the transcriptional modulation of the cellular antiviral response representing a common theme. In general, viral reprogramming of host cell transcription creates an optimal environment for virus replication and/or persistence.

In recent years, many novel and interesting mechanisms by which viruses modulate host cell transcription to promote infection have been identified. Many of these alterations contribute to viral pathogenesis. In addition, studies of viral subversion of the transcriptional apparatus have revealed key insights into the basis of normal transcriptional regulation, including the exciting area of epigenetic control of gene expression. Collectively, this research has enhanced our understanding of the complexities of transcriptional control of gene expression.

This Special Issue of Viruses is dedicated to understanding how viruses subvert cellular transcriptional control. We hope to assemble a collection of research papers and reviews that enhance our understanding of the interface between viruses and eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. Topics may include studies on the evolution and function of viral transcriptional regulators; viral mechanisms of transcriptional shutoff and direct control of the transcriptional apparatus; virally-induced epigenetic changes as a means to alter gene expression; changes in viral control of host immune responses intimately linked with transcription; and the impact of virally induced transcriptional alterations on cell fate and a variety of pathogenic outcomes of infection, including cancer.

We hope that this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource to new and established researchers in the field, and frame important unanswered questions to focus future research efforts.

Dr. Joe Mymryk
Guest Editor

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