Summary. -Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a prototype virus of the Arenaviridae family that is attracting considerable attention both as an important experimental model system to study acute and persistent viral infections, and as a neglected human pathogen of clinical signifi cance. Notably, LCMV is capable of persisting in an infected host, and escaping the immune system. Here we describe the strategies used by the virus to establish and maintain long-term infection in vitro and/or persistent infection in vivo. We discuss how the viral components (RNA, nucleoprotein, glycoprotein, Z protein) manipulate the host cell machinery to facilitate survival and spread of the virus without disturbing the basal cellular processes. Deep understanding of these strategies is inevitable for the development of approaches towards restricting the virus spread and/or preventing its harmful reactivation. Th is review summarizes the current status in this area and presents ideas emerging from existing data.Keywords: lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; arenaviruses; persistent infection E-mail: virulama@savba.sk; phone: +421-2-59302439. Abbreviations: ATF6 = activating transcription factor 6; DC = dendritic cells; DG = dystroglycan; ECM = extracellular matrix; eIF-4E/G = eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E or 4G; eIF-4G = eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G; GAPDH = glyceraldehyd-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GP1,2 = glycoprotein 1, 2; GPC = glycoprotein precursor; IRE1 = inositol-requiring protein 1; IRF-3 = IFN regulatory factor 3; PERK = PKR-like ER kinase; PML = promyelocytic leukemia; UPR = unfolded protein response; ZP = Z protein