Mechanisms of DNA virus infection: entry and early events.

The cellular components engaged in entry of viruses has been an area of intense investigation in recent years. We examine the entry and receptors used for well-studied and prevalent human DNA viruses adenoviruses, poxviruses and two herpesviruses- herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus. Little is yet known about the entry or early events for other human DNA viruses. Common themes that emerge for entry of these prevalent human DNA viruses include engagement of multiple receptors, use of cell surface molecules that are prominent and, in most cases, conserved on cells, and interactions with proteins that can alter morphology of the cytoskeleton or modulate intracellular signaling for gene expression. Where available, we provide evidence that entry not only transports the capsid and genome across a cell membrane, but that these events also can set up the cell for subsequent events that contribute to successful viral replication.