Partners in Crime: Synergistic Antiapoptotic Effects of HCMV Gene Products in Infected Cells

Abstract

The means by which human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) evades the immune system has been a hot research topic for the past three decades. While much of the research has focused on viral proteins that interfere with the host’s immune response, recent investigations suggest that proteins are not the only culprits. New findings by Hancock et al. indicate that HCMV-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) work alongside viral proteins to produce synergistic antiapoptotic effects, shedding light on the mechanisms by which HCMV establishes latent infection in host cells.