from Marc Dalod and Christine A. Biron writing in
Cytomegaloviruses: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Intervention:
In addition to mediating early defense during primary infection,
innate immunity delivers immunoregulatory functions to shape
innate and adaptive immunity. Basic knowledge on the mechanisms
inducing innate cytokine responses and the consequences for
orchestrating downstream immunity is being advanced at a
dramatic rate. Studies of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
infections in mice have contributed many of the breakthrough
discoveries in these areas. Although intrinsic differences in
viruses, hosts, and infection sites result in unique host-
microbe relationships, there are overlapping effects mediated by
host cell subsets and molecules. Thus, the information resulting
from the leading-edge characterization of responses to MCMV has
set the framework for understanding responses to a variety of
infections in humans and mice and provided insights on
approaches for enhancing resistance to virus-induced di