How Human Cytomegalovirus Hijacks the Immune System

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common herpesvirus that infects a large percentage of the population worldwide. While most healthy individuals can control the virus with their immune system, HCMV has evolved sophisticated mechanisms to evade immune detection and establish a lifelong latent infection.

One of the key strategies employed by HCMV is to manipulate the host immune response. The virus can interfere with the production and function of various immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and dendritic cells. By disrupting the normal immune surveillance mechanisms, HCMV can avoid detection and clearance by the immune system.

Furthermore, HCMV has developed mechanisms to modulate the host immune response to its advantage. The virus can induce the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines while suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, creating an environment that is conducive to viral persistence.

Another way in which HCMV evades the immune system is by encoding proteins that mimic host proteins or interfere with signaling pathways involved in immune recognition. These viral proteins can disrupt the normal functioning of immune cells and prevent the activation of antiviral responses.

Overall, the ability of HCMV to hijack the immune system is a key factor in its success as a persistent pathogen. By evading immune detection and modulating the host immune response, HCMV can establish a lifelong infection in the host. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat HCMV infection.