1. Sensing Viral Infections in Insects: A Dearth of Pathway Receptors.
- Author
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Talide L, Imler JL, and Meignin C
- Subjects
- Animals, Biomarkers, Disease Resistance genetics, Disease Resistance immunology, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Insecta genetics, RNA Interference, RNA, Small Interfering genetics, Signal Transduction, Structure-Activity Relationship, Host-Pathogen Interactions genetics, Host-Pathogen Interactions immunology, Insect Viruses immunology, Insecta metabolism, Insecta virology
- Abstract
Insects, the most diverse group of animals, can be infected by an extraordinary diversity of viruses. Among them, arthropod-borne viruses can be transmitted to humans, while bee and silkworm viruses cause important economic losses. Like all invertebrates, insects rely solely on innate immunity to counter viral infections. Protein-based mechanisms, involving restriction factors and evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways regulating transcription factors of the NF-kB and STAT families, participate in the control of viral infections in insects. In addition, RNA-based responses play a major role in the silencing of viral RNAs. We review here our current state of knowledge on insect antiviral defense mechanisms, which include conserved as well as adaptive, insect-specific strategies. Identification of the innate immunity receptors that sense viral infection in insects remains a major challenge for the field.
- Published
- 2020
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