Viruses and Lipids
2010
Viruses and Lipids
Editorial
Author Information
Author(s): Ono Akira
Primary Institution: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School
Conclusion
Lipids play active roles in the virus life cycle as host cofactors rather than inert constituents of cell membranes.
Supporting Evidence
- Lipids are no longer thought to be just plain building blocks of membrane bilayers.
- Glycosphingolipids serve as virus receptors for a wide variety of viruses.
- Alphavirus entry is a cholesterol-dependent process.
- Lipid droplets and fatty acid biosynthesis are important for the hepatitis C virus life cycle.
- Non-enveloped viruses can exit without lysis of producer cells.
- Poxviruses acquire multiple lipid membranes during their replication.
- Retroviruses associate with cholesterol-rich lipid raft microdomains during assembly and entry.
Takeaway
Viruses need lipids to help them enter and replicate inside cells, and understanding this can help us find new ways to treat viral infections.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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