Science and Technology Production
The Virus–Host Interplay in Junín Mammarenavirus Infection
Article
Date:
2022Publishing House and Editing Place:
MDPIMagazine:
Viruses, vol. 14 MDPISummary *
Abstract: Junín virus (JUNV) belongs to the Arenaviridae family and is the causative agent of Argentinehemorrhagic fever (AHF), a severe human disease endemic to agricultural areas in Argentina. At thismoment, there are no effective antiviral therapeutics to battle pathogenic arenaviruses. Cumulativereports from recent years have widely provided information on cellular factors playing key rolesduring JUNV infection. In this review, we summarize research on host molecular determinants thatintervene in the different stages of the viral life cycle: viral entry, replication, assembly and budding.Alongside, we describe JUNV tight interplay with the innate immune system. We also review thedevelopment of different reverse genetics systems and their use as tools to study JUNV biology andits close teamwork with the host. Elucidating relevant interactions of the virus with the host cellmachinery is highly necessary to better understand the mechanistic basis beyond virus multiplication,disease pathogenesis and viral subversion of the immune response. Altogether, this knowledgebecomes essential for identifying potential targets for the rational design of novel antiviral treatmentsto combat JUNV as well as other pathogenic arenaviruses. Information provided by the agent in SIGEVAKey Words
Argentine hemorrhagic feverJunín virus immune responsehost–virus interactions