Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to succes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hannah Preston, Rowan Casey, Elizabeth Ferris, Lauren Kerr-Jones, Lauren Jones, Farah Latif, Mathew Clement, Rebecca J. Aicheler, Eddie C. Y. Wang, Richard J. Stanton, Ceri A. Fielding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/629
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849733417339453440
author Hannah Preston
Rowan Casey
Elizabeth Ferris
Lauren Kerr-Jones
Lauren Jones
Farah Latif
Mathew Clement
Rebecca J. Aicheler
Eddie C. Y. Wang
Richard J. Stanton
Ceri A. Fielding
author_facet Hannah Preston
Rowan Casey
Elizabeth Ferris
Lauren Kerr-Jones
Lauren Jones
Farah Latif
Mathew Clement
Rebecca J. Aicheler
Eddie C. Y. Wang
Richard J. Stanton
Ceri A. Fielding
author_sort Hannah Preston
collection DOAJ
description Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to successfully establish a lifelong persistent infection, and in the process, dramatically reshapes the phenotype and function of host immunity to both HCMV and other diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of successful herpesvirus control. Here, we discuss their role in modulating HCMV disease and the multitude of ways that HCMV has evolved to prevent and manipulate this process. We also consider how antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by NK cells directed against HCMV might overcome NK immune evasion mechanisms and be useful therapeutically.
format Article
id doaj-art-3aac6a6ed23b410fa257bac7beaac2a1
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-0817
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pathogens
spelling doaj-art-3aac6a6ed23b410fa257bac7beaac2a12025-08-20T03:08:02ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-06-0114762910.3390/pathogens14070629Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?Hannah Preston0Rowan Casey1Elizabeth Ferris2Lauren Kerr-Jones3Lauren Jones4Farah Latif5Mathew Clement6Rebecca J. Aicheler7Eddie C. Y. Wang8Richard J. Stanton9Ceri A. Fielding10Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKSchool of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to successfully establish a lifelong persistent infection, and in the process, dramatically reshapes the phenotype and function of host immunity to both HCMV and other diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of successful herpesvirus control. Here, we discuss their role in modulating HCMV disease and the multitude of ways that HCMV has evolved to prevent and manipulate this process. We also consider how antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by NK cells directed against HCMV might overcome NK immune evasion mechanisms and be useful therapeutically.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/629cytomegalovirusnatural killer cellimmune evasion
spellingShingle Hannah Preston
Rowan Casey
Elizabeth Ferris
Lauren Kerr-Jones
Lauren Jones
Farah Latif
Mathew Clement
Rebecca J. Aicheler
Eddie C. Y. Wang
Richard J. Stanton
Ceri A. Fielding
Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
Pathogens
cytomegalovirus
natural killer cell
immune evasion
title Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
title_full Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
title_fullStr Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
title_full_unstemmed Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
title_short Human Cytomegalovirus Immune Evasion of Natural Killer Cells: A Virus for All Seasons?
title_sort human cytomegalovirus immune evasion of natural killer cells a virus for all seasons
topic cytomegalovirus
natural killer cell
immune evasion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/629
work_keys_str_mv AT hannahpreston humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT rowancasey humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT elizabethferris humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT laurenkerrjones humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT laurenjones humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT farahlatif humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT mathewclement humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT rebeccajaicheler humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT eddiecywang humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT richardjstanton humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons
AT ceriafielding humancytomegalovirusimmuneevasionofnaturalkillercellsavirusforallseasons