Beta and Gamma Human Herpesviruses: Agonistic and Antagonistic Interactions with the Host Immune System.

ABSTRACT: Viruses are the most abundant and diverse biological entities in the planet. Historically, our main interest in viruses has focused on their pathogenic role, recognized by pandemics that have decimated the world population. However, viral infections have also played a major role in the evolution of cellular organisms, both through interchanging of genes with novel functions and shaping the immune system. Examples abound of infections that seriously compromise the host integrity, but evidence of plant and insect viruses mutualistic relationships have recently surfaced in which infected hosts are better suited for survival, arguing that virus-host interactions are initially parasitic but become mutualistic over years of co-evolution. A similar mutual help scenario has emerged with commensal

SUBMITTER: Cruz-Munoz ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5760548 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature