Ila A. Davis and BarryT. Rouse.

Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996

Received 11/25/ 97 Accepted 11/28/97

5. CONCLUDING REMARKS

The notion that viral immune evasion strategies exist is both sensible and credible. Verification appears at hand by in vitro studies as well as from a few, often contrived, in vivo animal model systems. The study of immune evasion has taught important lessons in the fundamental mechanisms of antigen processing and immune system recognition of viral proteins. As put so nicely by Rolf Zinkernagel, "viruses can teach us immunology" (2). However, since confirmatory in vivo data for most of these putative evasion mechanisms remains scarce, becoming overly enthusiastic about these potentially seductive hypotheses is cautioned against. Currently, the reality is that there are precious few examples where a speculated immune evasion measure has been shown to function as such in vivo following infection in the virus's natural host. Of course, the results of further experimentation may reveal examples which are vital in vivo evasion strategies. It is likely that many mechanisms will be proven to be interesting in vitro curiosities unrelated to pathogenesis. The next few years of experimentation will undoubtedly yield valuable clarification as to the true relevance of viral evasion strategies.