Virus manipulation of cell cycle

Abstract

Viruses depend on host cell resources for replication and access to those resources may be limited to a particular phase of the cell cycle. Thus manipulation of cell cycle is a commonly employed strategy of viruses for achieving a favorable cellular environment. For example, viruses capable of infecting nondividing cells induce S phase in order to activate the host DNA replication machinery and provide the nucleotide triphosphates necessary for viral DNA replication (Flemington in J Virol 75:4475-4481, 2001; Sullivan and Pipas in Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 66:179-202, 2002). Viruses have developed several strategies to subvert the cell cycle by association with cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase complexes and molecules that regulate their activity. Viruses tend to act on cellular proteins involved in a network of interactions in a way that minimal protein-protein interactions lead to a major effect. The complex and interactive nature of intracellular signaling pathways controlling cell division affords many opportunities for virus manipulation strategies. Taking the maxim "Set a thief to catch a thief" as a counter strategy, however, provides us with the very same virus evasion strategies as "ready-made tools" for the development of novel antivirus therapeutics. The most obvious are attenuated virus vaccines with critical evasion genes deleted. Similarly, vaccines against viruses causing cancer are now being successfully developed. Finally, as viruses have been playing chess with our cell biology and immune responses for millions of years, the study of their evasion strategies will also undoubtedly reveal new control mechanisms and their corresponding cellular intracellular signaling pathways.

Metagenomic analysis of double-stranded DNA viruses in healthy adults

“…However, the mechanisms that favor viral-host coexistence likely consist of known protective host defenses and unappreciated processes. Viruses encode proteins to regulate the cell cycle [25], regulate host gene expression, and suppress or subvert host immune responses [26-30]. Viruses also encode micro RNAs that regulate cellular processes [31].…”

“…Thus, latent and persistently infecting viruses are continually interacting with the host in many ways. Many virologists are characterizing the complex effects of interactions that occur between virus and host during infection [25-30]. We know that viruses commonly target specific cellular pathways to regulate the cell and promote viral replication, but each virus can have its own mechanism for achieving the same control over a cellular pathway [31,32].…”

Metagenomic analysis of double-stranded DNA viruses in healthy adults

“…and unappreciated processes. Viruses encode proteins to regulate the cell cycle [25], regulate host gene expression, and suppress or subvert host immune responses [26][27][28][29][30]. Viruses also encode micro RNAs that regulate cellular processes [31].…”

“…Thus, latent and persistently infecting viruses are continually interacting with the host in many ways. Many virologists are characterizing the complex effects of interactions that occur between virus and host during infection [25][26][27][28][29][30]. We know that viruses commonly target specific cellular pathways to regulate the cell and promote viral replication, but each virus can have its own mechanism for achieving the same control over a cellular pathway [31,32].…”

A tumour necrosis factor receptor-like protein encoded by Singapore grouper iridovirus modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis and viral replication

“…Increasing evidence demonstrates that viruses have developed different strategies to regulate the cell cycle for efficient viral replication (Emmett et al, 2005;Nascimento et al, 2012). Moreover, viruses usually encode certain genes to affect cell proliferation to promote efficient viral replication (Guo et al, 2010).…”