Session 1C — Lectures by Fellows/Associates

Renee M. Borges, IISc, Bengaluru

Viruses strike back against the complement system View Presentation

Viruses require a host for replication and survival and hence are subjected to host immunological pressures. The complement system, a crucial first response of the host immune system, effectively targets viruses and virus-infected cells and boosts the antiviral innate and acquired immune responses. Thus, the system imposes a strong selection pressure on viruses. Consequently, viruses have evolved multiple countermeasures against the host complement. A major mechanism employed by viruses to subvert the complement system is molecular mimicry of the host complement regulators — the structure, function, and mechanism of complement evasion of these proteins will be discussed in the meeting. Additionally, data will also be presented on the complement-mediated immunological control of viruses.