inflammation

Viruses of protozoan parasites may exacerbate human disease

5 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Many protozoan parasites (Trichomonas, Leishmania, Giardia, Plasmodium, Entamoeba, Nagleria, Eimeria, Cryptosporidium) are infected with viruses. These viruses do not infect vertebrates, but their double-stranded RNA genomes are sensed by the innate immune system, leading to inflammatory complications of protozoan infections. Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite that infects the genitourinary tract of ~250 million individuals …

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The complement system

15 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

The complement system is a collection of blood and cell surface proteins that is a major primary defense and a clearance component of innate and adaptive immune responses. At least 30 different complement proteins act sequentially to produce a wide ranges of activities, from cell lysis to augmentation of the adaptive response. The complement system …

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The inflammatory response

13 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

During the earliest stages of a virus infection, cytokines are produced when innate immune defenses are activated. The rapid release of cytokines at the site of infection initiates new responses with far-reaching consequences that include inflammation. One of the earliest cytokines produced is tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-Î±), which is synthesized by activated monocytes and …

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