Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial pathogens and trigger innate immune responses. Among TLR family members, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 induce interferon (IFN)-alpha in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). This induction requires the formation of a complex consisting of the adaptor MyD88, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 7. He...

In contrast to pathogenic HIV/SIV infections of humans and rhesus macaques (RMs), natural SIV infection of sooty mangabeys (SMs) is typically non-pathogenic despite high viremia. Several studies suggested that low immune activation and relative resistance of CD4+ central memory T-cells from virus infection are mechanisms that protect SMs from AIDS. In 2008 it was reported that plasmacytoid dend...

An interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE)/interferon regulatory element (IRE) spanning nucleotide coordinates 1091-1100 is present in the enhancer 1/X gene promoter region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome. In the context of a minimal promoter element, the enhancer 1/X gene promoter ISRE/IRE was shown to be a functional regulatory site capable of mediating interferon alpha- (IFNalpha...

The transcription factor interferon regulatory 4 (IRF4) belongs to the IRF family and has several important functions for adaptive immune response. Mutations affecting members IRF1, IRF3, IRF7, IRF8, or IRF9 have been described in patients presenting with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) highlighting importance these factors cellular host defense against mycobacterial and/or viral infections. IR...

Type I interferons (IFNs), predominantly IFN-α and -β, play critical roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses against viral infections. Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), a key innate immune molecule in the type I IFN signaling pathway, is essential for the type I IFN response to many viruses, including lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Here, we show that although IRF7 kn...

The ICP0 protein (bICP0) encoded by bovine herpesvirus 1 is the major viral regulatory protein because it stimulates all viral promoters and, consequently, productive infection. Like other ICP0 analogues encoded by Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily members, bICP0 contains a zinc RING finger near its amino terminus that is necessary for activating transcription, regulating subcellular localization, a...

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) induces multiple signal transduction pathways during latent EBV infection via its C-terminal activating region 1 (CTAR1), CTAR2, and the less-studied CTAR3. One mechanism by which LMP1 regulates cellular activation is through the induction of protein posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation and ubiquitination. We recent...

Interferon A (IFN-A) genes are differentially expressed after virus induction. The differential expression of individual IFN-A genes is modulated by the specific transcription activators IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and IRF-7 and the homeoprotein transcription repressor Pitx1. We now show that repression by Pitx1 does not appear to be due to the recruitment of histone deacetylases. On the oth...