Viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor - Zalophus californianus (California sea lion)

Viruses have evolved diverse mechanisms to evade detection and destruction by the immune system, including copying and repurposing host cytokine and cytokine receptor genes. Viral cytokines and cytokine receptors, together with a group of structurally unique, soluble, cytokine-binding or cytokine receptor-binding proteins, represent the three major molecular strategies for subversion and modulation of the host cytokine networks mainly in large DNA viruses. Viral cytokines and cytokine receptor homologs, including other binding proteins, may activate or inhibit cytokine signaling and possibly affect different aspects of immunity.