West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis
West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic, arthropod-borne flavivirus that is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds, but can also infect and cause disease in horses and humans. WNV is endemic in parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and since 1999 has spread to Nort...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2011-06-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/6/811/ |
| _version_ | 1818535034951303168 |
|---|---|
| author | Byron E.E. Martina Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus Penelope Koraka Stephanie M. Lim |
| author_facet | Byron E.E. Martina Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus Penelope Koraka Stephanie M. Lim |
| author_sort | Byron E.E. Martina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic, arthropod-borne flavivirus that is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds, but can also infect and cause disease in horses and humans. WNV is endemic in parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and since 1999 has spread to North America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. WNV infects the central nervous system (CNS) and can cause severe disease in a small minority of infected humans, mostly immunocompromised or the elderly. This review discusses some of the mechanisms by which the immune system can limit dissemination of WNV infection and elaborates on the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis. Reasons for susceptibility to WNV-associated neuroinvasive disease in less than 1% of cases remain unexplained, but one favored hypothesis is that the involvement of the CNS is associated with a weak immune response allowing robust WNV replication in the periphery and spread of the virus to the CNS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:19:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc0f52b8f57d467b95dc59f7c82a396e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:19:27Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc0f52b8f57d467b95dc59f7c82a396e2022-12-22T00:55:19ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152011-06-013681182810.3390/v3060811West Nile Virus: Immunity and PathogenesisByron E.E. MartinaAlbert D.M.E. OsterhausPenelope KorakaStephanie M. LimWest Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic, arthropod-borne flavivirus that is maintained in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds, but can also infect and cause disease in horses and humans. WNV is endemic in parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and since 1999 has spread to North America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. WNV infects the central nervous system (CNS) and can cause severe disease in a small minority of infected humans, mostly immunocompromised or the elderly. This review discusses some of the mechanisms by which the immune system can limit dissemination of WNV infection and elaborates on the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis. Reasons for susceptibility to WNV-associated neuroinvasive disease in less than 1% of cases remain unexplained, but one favored hypothesis is that the involvement of the CNS is associated with a weak immune response allowing robust WNV replication in the periphery and spread of the virus to the CNS.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/6/811/West Nile viruspathogenesiscentral nervous systemneuroinvasion |
| spellingShingle | Byron E.E. Martina Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus Penelope Koraka Stephanie M. Lim West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis Viruses West Nile virus pathogenesis central nervous system neuroinvasion |
| title | West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis |
| title_full | West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis |
| title_fullStr | West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis |
| title_short | West Nile Virus: Immunity and Pathogenesis |
| title_sort | west nile virus immunity and pathogenesis |
| topic | West Nile virus pathogenesis central nervous system neuroinvasion |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/3/6/811/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT byroneemartina westnilevirusimmunityandpathogenesis AT albertdmeosterhaus westnilevirusimmunityandpathogenesis AT penelopekoraka westnilevirusimmunityandpathogenesis AT stephaniemlim westnilevirusimmunityandpathogenesis |