Intrinsic Antiviral Factors

Dear Colleagues,

Cells possess all the essential factors and machineries that viruses need to achieve their replication and are therefore the victims of perpetual hostile takeovers from these parasites. This continuous selective pressure they were exposed to for millions of years has led eukaryotic cells to develop specific factors that are dedicated to antiviral defenses. These intrinsic defenses are now considered as the third arm of immunity, in addition to the traditionally bipartite immune system of innate and adaptive immunity. This notion of intrinsic immunity emerged more than 10 years ago, following the identification of cellular factors that interfere with retroviral replication, the so-called restriction factors. Since the discovery of the prototype antiretroviral restriction factors Fv1, APOBEC3G, and TRIM5a, a plethora of other intrinsic antiviral factors have been identified and interfere with the replication of many different viruses. Although they can be constitutively expressed in given cell types and thus block replication directly, most intrinsic antiviral factors are induced by interferons to amplify their antiviral activity.

Cells have thus recently emerged as new battlefields where virus and host confrontations can be witnessed first-hand, since viruses have to either escape or counteract these intracellular barriers in order to achieve their replication and ensure their propagation.

This Special Issue is intended to provide an up-to-date view of the numerous intrinsic antiviral factors that have been or are yet to be identified and the various strategies developed by viruses to evade these factors.

Dr. Sébastien Nisole
Guest Editor

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