Adenoviral inhibitors of apoptotic cell death.

Adenoviruses (Ads) are endemic in the human population and the well-studied group C Ads typically cause an acute infection in the respiratory epithelium. A growing body of evidence suggests that these viruses also establish a persistent infection. The Ad genome encodes several proteins that counteract the host anti-viral mechanisms, which function to limit viral infections. This review describes the adenovirus immuno-regulatory proteins and how they function to block apoptosis of infected cells. In addition to facilitating the successful completion of the viral replication cycle and spread of progeny virus, these functions may help maintain the virus in a persistent state.