Anti-apoptotic strategies of lymphotropic viruses.

Induction of apoptosis of virus-infected cells is an important host cell defence mechanism. However, some viruses have incorporated genes that encode anti-apoptotic proteins or modulate the expression of cellular regulators of apoptosis. Here, Edgar Meinl and colleagues discuss recent evidence that viral interference with host cell apoptosis leads to enhanced viral replication, and to evasion of cytotoxic T-cell effects.