Viral Infections: Mechanisms of Immunologic Defense and Injury

Abstract

Cell-to-cell viral spread after infection involves three routes of transmission—extracellular, intercellular between cells in contact, and parent to progeny. As a result of this variety in spread, host immune responses have developed with corresponding ‘ingenuity.’ Involved are both the humoral-antibody and T-cell systems, as well as complement, interferon, and other immunologic mediators.