Mechanisms of Viral Persistence Flashcards
Persistent Viral Infection
- Chronic
- Latent
3 conditions for viral persistence:
✷ The virus must be able to infect host cells without being cytopathic
✷ There must be mechanisms for long-term maintenance of the viral genome in the host cells
✷ The virus has to avoid detection and elimination by the host’s immune response (antigenic variation)
Restriction of Viral Cytolytic Effect
✷ Most arenaviruses replicate in animal host without any cytopathic effect
✷ HBV infects hepatocytes with little or no injury
✷ HIV is more lytic for T-cells and less cytopathic for monocytes/macrophages
✷ Infection of non-permissive Cells
- Sensory neurons - HSV
- B lymphocytes - EBV
✷ Evolution of Viral Variants
Mechanisms of Viral Genome Maintenance
✷ Genome integration (HIV)
✷ Genomes of EBV and some papillomaviruses are maintained as episomal circular molecules
✷ HSV as extrachromosomal (episomes) DNA
✷ Mechanisms for RNA viruses not understood
- Low level of replication
- Folding of RNA to provide stability
Avoid Elimination by Host Response
✷ Evasion of Host Immunity
✷ Viral Evasion Strategies
✷ Antigenic Variation
✷ Interference with the host immune system
Host Immunity
✷ Antiviral immunity
✷ Antibodies and T cells
✷ T cells see viral antigens with MHC I and II
✷ All viral proteins can be potential targets for T-cell recognition
✷ The primary mechanism employed by CD8+ T cells is killing of virus infected cells
✷ CD4+ T-cells contribute to antiviral immunity by producing antiviral cytokines
How does a virus evade host immunity?
✷ Restricted Expression of viral genes
✷ reduces lytic potential, escape host immunity
✷ Infection of Immunological Privileged Sites
✷ not readily accessible to the immune system ✷ CNS favored by viruses
✷ Two factors favor viral persistence in CNS
- Blood brain barrier - limits lymphocyte trafficking
- Neurons do not express MHC I or MHC II, no direct recognition by T cells
✷ Viruses can persist in kidney e.g. BK, JC, CMV
• T cells can infiltrate the kidney, but limited access to infected epithelial cells
Antigenic Variation
✷ Emergence of viral variants
- RNA viruses undergo mutation at high frequencies
- This can result in evasion of both T and B cell immunity
- Viral escape from antibody recognition
- Viral escape from T-cell recognition
- CTL escape mutants occur in HIV, EBV, and HBV
Interfernece with the Immune System
✷ Suppression of cell surface molecules required for T-cell recognition
• down regulation of several host molecules that are necessary for T-cell recognition of virus infected cells
✷ MHC I and II
- Adenovirus downregulates MHC I
- CMV, HIV, and measles have been shown to interfere with MHC II expression
✷ Interference with cytokine function
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS
✷ Persistent viral infections of CNS are slow viral diseases due to protracted period between infection and the prolonged course of the illness.
✷ Involve well differentiated cells, such as lymphocytes and neuronal cells.
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS Conventional Viral Agents
- Viruses possess nucleic acid genome and protein capsid
- Induce immune responses
- Replicate in cell culture system
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS Conventional Viral Agents - SSPE
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)
- Rare chronic measles virus infection in children produces progressive neurologic disease
- Usually appears 2 to 10 years after measles virus infection
- Characterized by an insidious onset of personality change
- Caused by measles virus
- Progressive intellectual deterioration
- Dysfunctions of motor and autonomic neuron system
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS Conventional Viral Agents - Progressive Postrubella Panencephalitis
- Rare degenerative neurologic disorder similar to measles
- May be related to persistent rubella virus infection of CNS
- Seen most often in adolescents with congenital rubella syndrome
- Rubella virus isolated from brain tissue of the patients.
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS Conventional Viral Agents - PML
- Caused by JC virus
- Subacute degenerative disease of the brain
- Primarily in adults with other chronic diseases
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings are normal
- Slight increase in lymphocytes
- Protein levels elevated
- Characterized by the development of impaired memory, confusion and disorientation.
- Followed by a multiplicity of neurologic symptoms
- Death could occur 3 to 6 months after onset of symptoms
- Incidence is on rise because of AIDS epidemic
Diagnosis:
- JCV particles can be seen by electron microscope
- JCV DNA sequences have been detected by PCR.
Treatment:
- No specific treatment for PML
- Reducing the immunosuppression may have some clinical benefit
Persistent Viral Infection of CNS Conventional Viral Agents - Persistent Enterovirus Infection
- •Persons with congenital or severe acquired immunodeficiency especially with agammaglobulinemia
- Chronic CNS infection due to echovirus or enterovirus
- Headache, confusion, lethargy, seizures and CSF pleocytosis are common manifestations.
- Virus can be isolated from CSF, Clinical improvement by administration of human hyperimmune globulin to the infecting virus type.
- Relapse occurs if therapy is discontinued.
- Mainly Picornaviruses