virocytes |
virokinin |
plasma cells |
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[virokines]
[viral cytokine] A collective term (sometimes also: viralkines) proposed to describe virus-encoded proteins that counteract host responses, act like secreted mimics of host ligands (Cytokines) and possess mainly immunosubversive activities. These viral genes are thought to have been captured from host cells during viral evolution and modified to confer an advantage in viral replication, survival or transmission. Analysis of various viral proteins demonstrates that these virus-encoded proteins are often smaller and more powerful than the highly homologous host immune proteins.
Examples of virus-encoded cytokine mimics or factors involved in cytokine processing are:
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