Innate Immune Subversion Strategies of Human Flaviviruses

Crit Rev Immunol. 2021;41(3):27-42. doi: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.2021039844.

Abstract

Flavivirus is a genus of medically important viruses, including Dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), etc. The global burden of these acute infection-causing viruses is ever-increasing. Primary febrile symptoms of most of these viruses can progress to hemorrhagic or neurological complications, and some like JEV, YFV have a greater than 15% mortality. The absence of antiviral therapy and highly effective vaccine candidates for these viruses highlights the need for research into virulence and immune evasion mechanisms at the molecular level. Interaction with the host needs to be carefully dissected to narrow down to a list of necessary factors for virus survival within the host. This review attempts to comprehensively compile research efforts made in the field of innate immune subversion strategies employed by the human Flaviviruses.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Flavivirus*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Zika Virus Infection*
  • Zika Virus*