VIRAL INHIBITION OF THE INTERFERON SYSTEM

In response to interferon (IFN), cells develop an antiviral state in which the replication of a wide spectrum of RNA and DNA viruses is inhibited. Viruses have evolved a variety of mechanisms to inhibit the production and action of the interferons. Interferon action may be blocked by inhibition of the post-receptor signalling pathway, which prevents the expression of a number of proteins with antiviral properties. Other viruses prevent the action of specific, interferon-induced antiviral sytems. In particular, the action of the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (DAI) is inhibited by a variety of different viruses, indicating the fundamental importance of this enzyme to the antiviral response.