Viral Infection of NK cells

We would like to start off the year with discussion exploring the inherent ability of NK cells to resist being infected by virus. There are a number of viruses that infect immune cells: eg. HIV infection of CD4 T cells and DCs, influenza or ZIKV infection of macrophages, and EBV infection of B cells, to name a few. However, we are unaware of any wild-type virus capable of productively infecting NK cells. Understanding this broad resistance to viral infection could hold many therapeutic implications.

Below are some topics for discussion:

1) Are there any wild-type viruses known to productively infect NK cells?

2) Through what mechanism are NK cells able to broadly evade infection by virus?

3) Could these mechanisms be harnessed in other cell types as an anti-viral therapy?

4) Primary NK cells are also notoriously difficult to transduce efficiently. Could the

mechanisms for their resistance to viral infection be targeted to improve transduction

efficiency of primary NK cells?

Please feel free to discuss these questions and any others you may have about viral infection of NK cells in this section of the forum.