Virus Clearance: It Isn't Easy

Air date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 3:00:00 PM
Time displayed is Eastern Time, Washington DC Local
Category: Wednesday Afternoon Lectures
Description: Viruses can cause acute, latent or persistent infections depending on the effectiveness of the immune response in clearance of the virus from sites of infection. Clearance of acute RNA virus infections is generally thought to occur by cytolytic mechanisms within a few days. Our studies of alphavirus encephalitis have shown that clearance of infectious virus from the infected neurons is complete 7-8 days after infection, but that clearance of viral RNA occurs over many weeks and is never complete. Suppression of virus reactivation requires long-term residence of immune cells in the brain and spinal cord. Likewise, our studies of measles virus infection has shown that infectious virus is cleared within 1-2 days after the rash has faded, but clearance of viral RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymphoid tissues is ongoing for several months. These findings may help to explain slow resolution of symptoms, prolonged immune suppression and late appearance of disease associated with persistent infection.
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Author: Dr. Diane E. Griffin, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Runtime: 01:09:57
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