Action and reaction: the arthropod-borne flaviviruses and host interferon responses

Abstract

The arthropod-borne flaviviruses include tick- and mosquito-borne viruses that are causes of globally significant emerging diseases. These single-stranded RNA viruses are exquisitely sensitive to the antiviral effects of host interferons. However, both the tick- and mosquito-borne flaviviruses are capable of modulating the interferon response. Despite the high degree of similarity among members of the flavivirus genus, the mechanisms employed by individual viruses to modulate interferon responses differ. This review considers the arthropod-borne flaviviruses and the host interferon response as a pair of forces, the action and the reaction. The interaction of these two forces has led to a complex relationship between virus and host. An increased understanding of these interactions will likely facilitate the rational design of novel vaccines and therapeutics.