Innate recognition of viruses

Innate recognition of viruses is mediated by a panel of intracellular receptors that sense viral genomic nucleic acids and/or replication intermediates. Recognition of these viral signatures takes place in endosomal compartments of specialised cell types via a particular set of Toll-like receptors upon uptake of viral particles or material from infected dying cells. In addition, ubiquitously expressed nucleic acid-sensing molecules in the cytoplasm allow infected cells to detect virus replication and to alert neighbouring cells. This article gives an overview over the different viral nucleic acid sensors and their contribution to the orchestration of anti-viral immune responses. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.