Viral Infections and Host Immunity: Lessons Learned from Model Organisms

Viral infectionsViral infection pose significant global healthHealth threats, necessitating ongoing researchResearch into vaccinesVaccines and therapiesTherapy. Model organismsModel organisms like nematode wormNematode worm (Caenorhabditis elegansCaenorhabditis elegans), fruit flyFruit flies (Drosophila melanogasterDrosophila melanogaster), zebrafishZebrafish (Danio rerioDanio rerio), mouseMice (Mus musculusMus musculus), and other mammals offer valuable insights into viral pathogenesis and host immune responsesHost immune response due to their geneticGenetic and physiological similarities with humans. They enable controlled experiments, addressing ethicalEthical concerns, ensuring reproducibility, and facilitating rapid experimentationExperimentation. These models elucidate the crucial role of the innate immune response, particularly evident in organisms lacking adaptive immunityAdaptive immunity like C. elegans and D. melanogaster. In vertebratesVertebrate, innate immunityInnate immunity involves various cell types and pattern recognition receptors, with antiviralAntiviral defenses conserved across species. However, complex models like mice and ratsMice also depend on adaptive immunityAdaptive immunity, particularly T and B lymphocytesB lymphocytes, for long-term immunity. Model organismsModel organisms reveal viral evasion strategies, such as antigenic variation and immune suppression, crucial for effective treatments and preventionPrevention strategies. Overall, studying viral infectionsViral infection using model organismsModel organisms advances our understanding of viral pathogenesis and immune responsesImmune responses, aiding in the developmentDevelopment of therapiesTherapy and strategies to combat viral outbreaks. This chapter provides a concise overview of innate and adaptive immune responsesImmune responses to viral infectionsViral infection using model organismsModel organisms, highlighting their significance in virology research.