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Antiviral RNAi in Insects and Mammals: Parallels and Differences.

Susan SchusterPascal MiesenRonald P Van Rij
Published in: Viruses (2019)
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is a potent antiviral defense mechanism in plants and invertebrates, in response to which viruses evolved suppressors of RNAi. In mammals, the first line of defense is mediated by the type I interferon system (IFN); however, the degree to which RNAi contributes to antiviral defense is still not completely understood. Recent work suggests that antiviral RNAi is active in undifferentiated stem cells and that antiviral RNAi can be uncovered in differentiated cells in which the IFN system is inactive or in infections with viruses lacking putative viral suppressors of RNAi. In this review, we describe the mechanism of RNAi and its antiviral functions in insects and mammals. We draw parallels and highlight differences between (antiviral) RNAi in these classes of animals and discuss open questions for future research.
Keyphrases
  • stem cells
  • dendritic cells
  • sars cov
  • immune response
  • induced apoptosis
  • minimally invasive
  • mesenchymal stem cells
  • oxidative stress
  • bone marrow
  • signaling pathway
  • pi k akt