CD8 T Cell Exhaustion During Chronic Viral Infection and Cancer.

Exhausted CD8 T (Tex) cells are a distinct cell lineage that arise during chronic infections and cancers in animal models and humans. Tex cells are characterized by progressive loss of effector functions, high and sustained inhibitory receptor expression, metabolic dysregulation, poor memory recall and homeostatic self-renewal, and distinct transcriptional and epigenetic programs. The ability to reinvigorate Tex cells through inhibitory receptor blockade, such as αPD-1, highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting this population. Emerging insights into the mechanisms of exhaustion are informing immunotherapies for cancer and chronic infections. However, like other immune cells, Tex cells are heterogeneous and include progenitor and terminal subsets with unique characteristics and responses to checkpoint blockade. Here, we review our current understanding of Tex cell biology, including the developmental paths, transcriptional and epigenetic features, and cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to exhaustion and how this knowledge may inform therapeutic targeting of Tex cells in chronic infections, autoimmunity, and cancer.

Human autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs: From 1981 to 2023.

Human autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs were first discovered in a woman with disseminated shingles and were described by Ion Gresser from 1981 to 1984. They have since been found in patients with diverse conditions and are even used as a diagnostic criterion in patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1). However, their apparent lack of association with viral diseases, including shingles, led to wide acceptance of the conclusion that they had no pathological consequences. This perception began to change in 2020, when they were found to underlie about 15% of cases of critical COVID-19 pneumonia. They have since been shown to underlie other severe viral diseases, including 5%, 20%, and 40% of cases of critical influenza pneumonia, critical MERS pneumonia, and West Nile virus encephalitis, respectively. They also seem to be associated with shingles in various settings. These auto-Abs are present in all age groups of the general population, but their frequency increases with age to reach at least 5% in the elderly. We estimate that at least 100 million people worldwide carry auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. Here, we briefly review the history of the study of these auto-Abs, focusing particularly on their known causes and consequences.

Hostile Takeover: How Viruses Reprogram Prokaryotic Metabolism.

To reproduce, prokaryotic viruses must hijack the cellular machinery of their hosts and redirect it toward the production of viral particles. While takeover of the host replication and protein synthesis apparatus has long been considered an essential feature of infection, recent studies indicate that extensive reprogramming of host primary metabolism is a widespread phenomenon among prokaryotic viruses that is required to fulfill the biosynthetic needs of virion production. In this review we provide an overview of the most significant recent findings regarding virus-induced reprogramming of prokaryotic metabolism and suggest how quantitative systems biology approaches may be used to provide a holistic understanding of metabolic remodeling during lytic viral infection.

Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Viral Infections Are Linked to the Non-classical MHC Class II Gene H2-Ob.

Select humans and animals control persistent viral infections via adaptive immune responses that include production of neutralizing antibodies. The precise genetic basis for the control remains enigmatic. Here, we report positional cloning of the gene responsible for production of retrovirus-neutralizing antibodies in mice of the I/LnJ strain. It encodes the beta subunit of the non-classical major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II)-like molecule H2-O, a negative regulator of antigen presentation. The recessive and functionally null I/LnJ H2-Ob allele supported the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies independently of the classical MHC haplotype. Subsequent bioinformatics and functional analyses of the human H2-Ob homolog, HLA-DOB, revealed both loss- and gain-of-function alleles, which could affect the ability of their carriers to control infections with human hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses. Thus, understanding of the previously unappreciated role of H2-O (HLA-DO) in immunity to infections may suggest new approaches in achieving neutralizing immunity to viruses.

Peptides for microbe-induced cancers: latest therapeutic strategies and their advanced technologies.

Cancer is a significant global health concern associated with multiple distinct factors, including microbial and viral infections. Numerous studies have elucidated the role of microorganisms, such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), as well as viruses for example human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), in the development of human malignancies. Substantial attention has been focused on the treatment of these microorganism- and virus-associated cancers, with promising outcomes observed in studies employing peptide-based therapies. The current paper provides an overview of microbe- and virus-induced cancers and their underlying molecular mechanisms. We discuss an assortment of peptide-based therapies which are currently being developed, including tumor-targeting peptides and microbial/viral peptide-based vaccines. We describe the major technological advancements that have been made in the design, screening, and delivery of peptides as anticancer agents. The primary focus of the current review is to provide insight into the latest research and development in this field and to provide a realistic glimpse into the future of peptide-based therapies for microbe- and virus-induced neoplasms.

Covert RNA viruses in medflies differ in their mode of transmission and tissue tropism.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of covert viral infections in insects. These infections can be transmitted in insect populations via two main routes: vertical from parents to offspring, or horizontal between nonrelated individuals. Thirteen covert RNA viruses have been described in the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly). Some of these viruses are established in different laboratory-reared and wild medfly populations, although variations in the viral repertoire and viral levels have been observed at different time points. To better understand these viral dynamics, we characterized the prevalence and levels of covert RNA viruses in two medfly strains, assessed the route of transmission of these viruses, and explored their distribution in medfly adult tissues. Altogether, our results indicated that the different RNA viruses found in medflies vary in their preferred route of transmission. Two iflaviruses and a narnavirus are predominantly transmitted through vertical transmission via the female, while a nodavirus and a nora virus exhibited a preference for horizontal transmission. Overall, our results give valuable insights into the viral tropism and transmission of RNA viruses in the medfly, contributing to the understanding of viral dynamics in insect populations. IMPORTANCE: The presence of RNA viruses in insects has been extensively covered. However, the study of host-virus interaction has focused on viruses that cause detrimental effects to the host. In this manuscript, we uncovered which tissues are infected with covert RNA viruses in the agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata, and which is the preferred transmission route of these viruses. Our results showed that vertical and horizontal transmission can occur simultaneously, although each virus is transmitted more efficiently following one of these routes. Additionally, our results indicated an association between the tropism of the RNA virus and the preferred route of transmission. Overall, these results set the basis for understanding how viruses are established and maintained in medfly populations.

Virus-Associated CD8+ T-Cells Are Not Activated Through Antigen-Mediated Interaction Inside Atherosclerotic Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Viral infections have been associated with the progression of atherosclerosis and CD8+ T-cells directed against common viruses, such as influenza, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus, have been detected inside human atherosclerotic lesions. These virus-specific CD8+ T-cells have been hypothesized to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis; however, whether they affect disease progression directly remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize the activation status of virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in the atherosclerotic lesion. METHODS: The presence, clonality, tissue enrichment, and phenotype of virus-associated CD8+ T-cells in atherosclerotic lesions were assessed by exploiting bulk T-cell receptor-ß sequencing and single-cell T-cell receptor (α and ß) sequencing datasets on human endarterectomy samples and patient-matched blood samples. To investigate if virus-specific CD8+ T-cells can be activated through T-cell receptor stimulation in the atherosclerotic lesion, the immunopeptidome of human plaques was determined. RESULTS: Virus-associated CD8+ T-cells accumulated more in the atherosclerotic lesion (mean=2.0%), compared with patient-matched blood samples (mean=1.4%; P=0.05), and were more clonally expanded and tissue enriched in the atherosclerotic lesion in comparison with nonassociated CD8+ T-cells from the lesion. Single-cell T-cell receptor sequencing and flow cytometry revealed that these virus-associated CD8+ T-cells were phenotypically highly similar to other CD8+ T-cells in the lesion and that both exhibited a more activated phenotype compared with circulating T-cells. Interestingly, virus-associated CD8+ T-cells are unlikely to be activated through antigen-specific interactions in the atherosclerotic lesion, as no virus-derived peptides were detected on HLA-I in the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that virus-specific CD8+ T-cells are tissue enriched in atherosclerotic lesions; however, their potential contribution to inflammation may involve antigen-independent mechanisms.

The 2022 monkeypox outbreak 1 year on: The 5 Ws.

In May 2022, World Health Organization (WHO) reported an outbreak of Mpox in several European countries which were previously Mpox free. Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a zoonotic viral disease endemic in Central and West Africa. The sudden emergence of Mpox outside Africa and its subsequent rapid spread lead the WHO to declare the outbreak as Public Health Emergency of International Concern. By 15 May 2023, a total of 87,704 confirmed cases and 140 deaths had been reported from 111 countries and territories worldwide. Looking back on this outbreak 1 year later, several important questions have arisen. Here, we address these questions using the classic 5 Ws: What, When, Where, Who and Why? We discuss these questions to understand how this outbreak emerged and how it was effectively managed. We outline what needs to be done to prevent, or at least minimise, outbreaks due to emerging and re-emerging viral infections.

Host protease activity classifies pneumonia etiology.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been brought to the forefront of global health priorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, classification of viral versus bacterial pneumonia etiology remains a significant clinical challenge. To this end, we have engineered a panel of activity-based nanosensors that detect the dysregulated activity of pulmonary host proteases implicated in the response to pneumonia-causing pathogens and produce a urinary readout of disease. The nanosensor targets were selected based on a human protease transcriptomic signature for pneumonia etiology generated from 33 unique publicly available study cohorts. Five mouse models of bacterial or viral CAP were developed to assess the ability of the nanosensors to produce etiology-specific urinary signatures. Machine learning algorithms were used to train diagnostic classifiers that could distinguish infected mice from healthy controls and differentiate those with bacterial versus viral pneumonia with high accuracy. This proof-of-concept diagnostic approach demonstrates a way to distinguish pneumonia etiology based solely on the host proteolytic response to infection.

Association of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia With Long-Term Mortality in a Randomized Trial of Preemptive Therapy and Antiviral Prophylaxis for Prevention of CMV Disease in High-Risk Donor Seropositive, Recipient Seronegative Liver Transplant Recipients.

In a post-hoc analysis of the association of CMV DNAemia with long-term mortality in a randomized trial of CMV preemptive therapy vs. antiviral prophylaxis in D+R- liver transplant recipients, post-intervention CMV DNAemia was associated with increased mortality after adjusting for study arm.

CXCR3+ effector regulatory T cells associate with disease tolerance during lower respiratory pneumovirus infection.

Lifestyle factors like poor maternal diet or antibiotic exposure disrupt early life microbiome assembly in infants, increasing the risk of severe lower respiratory infections (sLRI). Our prior studies in mice indicated that a maternal low-fibre diet (LFD) exacerbates LRI severity in infants by impairing recruitment of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and consequently attenuating expansion of lung regulatory T (Treg) cells during pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) infection. Here, we investigated whether maternal dietary fibre intake influences Treg cell phenotypes in the mediastinal lymph nodes (mLN) and lungs of PVM-infected neonatal mice. Using high dimensional flow cytometry, we identified distinct clusters of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), which differed between lungs and mLN during infection, with notably greater effector Treg cell accumulation in the lungs. Compared to high-fibre diet (HFD)-reared pups, frequencies of various effector Treg cell subsets were decreased in the lungs of LFD-reared pups. Particularly, recruitment of chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3+) expressing Treg cells was attenuated in LFD-reared pups, correlating with lower lung expression of CXCL9 and CXCL10 chemokines. The recruitment of this subset in response to PVM infection was similarly impaired in pDC depleted mice or following anti-CXCR3 treatment, increasing immunopathology in the lungs. In summary, PVM infection leads to the sequential recruitment and expansion of distinct Treg cell subsets to the lungs and mLN. The attenuated recruitment of the CXCR3+ subset in LFD-reared pups increases LRI severity, suggesting that strategies to enhance pDCs or CXCL9/CXCL10 expression will lower immune-mediated pathogenesis.

Single-cell atlas of the liver myeloid compartment before and after cure of chronic viral hepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic viral infections present serious public health challenges; however, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are now able to cure nearly all patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), representing the only cure of a human chronic viral infection to date. DAAs provide a valuable opportunity to study immune pathways in the reversal of chronic immune failures in an in vivo human system. METHODS: To leverage this opportunity, we used plate-based single-cell RNA-seq to deeply profile myeloid cells from liver fine needle aspirates in patients with HCV before and after DAA treatment. We comprehensively characterised liver neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, conventional dendritic cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, classical monocytes, non-classical monocytes, and macrophages, and defined fine-grained subpopulations of several cell types. RESULTS: We discovered cell type-specific changes post-cure, including an increase in MCM7+STMN1+ proliferating CD1C+ conventional dendritic cells, which may support restoration from chronic exhaustion. We observed an expected downregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) post-cure as well as an unexpected inverse relationship between pre-treatment viral load and post-cure ISG expression in each cell type, revealing a link between viral loads and sustained modifications of the host's immune system. We found an upregulation of PD-L1/L2 gene expression in ISG-high neutrophils and IDO1 expression in eosinophils, pinpointing cell subpopulations crucial for immune regulation. We identified three recurring gene programmes shared by multiple cell types, distilling core functions of the myeloid compartment. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive single-cell RNA-seq atlas of human liver myeloid cells in response to cure of chronic viral infections reveals principles of liver immunity and provides immunotherapeutic insights. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02476617). IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Chronic viral liver infections continue to be a major public health problem. Single-cell characterisation of liver immune cells during hepatitis C and post-cure provides unique insights into the architecture of liver immunity contributing to the resolution of the first curable chronic viral infection of humans. Multiple layers of innate immune regulation during chronic infections and persistent immune modifications after cure are revealed. Researchers and clinicians may leverage these findings to develop methods to optimise the post-cure environment for HCV and develop novel therapeutic approaches for other chronic viral infections.

Tumor-necrosis factor α-rich environment alters type-I interferon response to viral stimuli in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis by altering myeloid dendritic cell phenotype.

The balance between the tumor-necrosis factor α (TNFα) and type-I interferon (T1IFN) pathways is crucial for proper immune function. Dysregulation of either pathway can contribute to autoimmune diseases development. Even though TNFα blockade has shown promising results in various autoimmune diseases, the effect on the balance between TNFα and T1IFN is elusive. We used targeted anti-TNFα therapies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as an experimental approach to study the cross-regulation between TNFα and type-I IFN. We found that TNFα-rich environment affected viral defense through the attenuation of T1IFN responses and affected the phenotype and distribution of myeloid dendritic cells, which are engaged in early viral infections. Anti-TNFα therapy normalized the observed deviations in JIA patients. We hypothesize that the inadequate immune response caused by a high TNFα environment could be projected to more frequent or lengthy viral infections and possibly play a role in the process of JIA disease development.

The association between infectious agents and breast cancer: a review of the epidemiologic evidence.

PURPOSE: Several viruses have been casually linked to human cancers, including cervical, nasopharyngeal, liver, sarcoma, and Merkel cell carcinomas. However, the etiologic contribution of viral infections to breast cancer, the number one incident cancer among women worldwide, is not well established. Among studies exploring associations of viruses with breast cancer, potential linkages have been identified between breast cancer and five viruses: beta retrovirus, (i.e., mouse mammary tumor virus), human papillomavirus, Epstein Barr virus. bovine leukemia virus, and human cytomegalovirus. METHODS: In this review, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of epidemiological ecologic, case-control, case-only, and cohort studies investigating these associations. We discuss results from several existing reviews and meta-analyses, evaluate epidemiological studies published in the past five years, and assess the relationship between these viruses and breast tumor clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: The strongest epidemiological evidence for a viral role in breast cancer exists for MMTV and HPV, though limitations include lack of prospective studies for MMTV and potential detection bias in HPV studies. Viral detection challenges have limited studies of EBV and HCMV. Fewer studies have evaluated BLV, and though it has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer, sample sizes are quite small.   CONCLUSION: While epidemiologic evidence exists for an association between these five viruses and breast cancer, various methodological issues and lack of prospective studies preclude robust conclusions. Future research should prioritize establishing a temporal relationship between infection and disease, minimizing misclassification of detection assays, and further exploring the influence of co-infections.

NK-cell receptor modulation in viral infections.

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in controlling viral infections. The ability to kill infected cells without prior immunization, yet being tolerant to self, healthy cells, depends on the balance of germ-line encoded surface receptors. NK-cell receptors are divided into either activating, leading to activation of NK cell and its cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory activity, or inhibitory, providing tolerance for a target cell. The signals from inhibitory receptors dominate and NK-cell activation requires stimulation of activating receptors. In viral infections, NK-cell interaction with infected cells can result in activation, memory-like NK-cell differentiation, or NK-cell exhaustion, which constitutes one of the viral immune evasion mechanisms. All of these states are associated with the modulation of NK-cell receptor expression. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of NK-cell receptors and their role in viral infection control, as well as the alterations of their expression observed in acute or chronic infections. We present recently discovered SARS-CoV-2-mediated modulation of NK-cell receptor expression and compare them with other human viral infections. Finally, since modulation of NK-cell receptor activation gives a promising addition to currently used antiviral therapies, we briefly discuss the clinical significance and future perspective of the application of agonists or antagonists of activating and inhibitory receptors, respectively. In sum, our review shows that although much is known about NK-cell receptor biology, a deeper understanding of NK-cell receptors role in viral infections is still needed.

Role of epithelial barrier function in inducing type 2 immunity following early-life viral infection.

BACKGROUND: Preschool wheeze attacks triggered by recurrent viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. However, mechanisms that lead to asthma following early-life viral wheezing remain uncertain. METHODS: To investigate a causal relationship between early-life RSV infections and onset of type 2 immunity, we developed a neonatal murine model of recurrent RSV infection, in vivo and in silico, and evaluated the dynamical changes of altered airway barrier function and downstream immune responses, including eosinophilia, mucus secretion and type 2 immunity. RESULTS: RSV infection of neonatal BALB/c mice at 5 and 15 days of age induced robust airway eosinophilia, increased pulmonary CD4+ IL-13+ and CD4+ IL-5+ cells, elevated levels of IL-13 and IL-5 and increased airway mucus at 20 days of age. Increased bronchoalveolar lavage albumin levels, suggesting epithelial barrier damage, were present and persisted following the second RSV infection. Computational in silico simulations demonstrated that recurrent RSV infection resulted in severe damage of the airway barrier (epithelium), triggering the onset of type 2 immunity. The in silico results also demonstrated that recurrent infection is not always necessary for the development of type 2 immunity, which could also be triggered with single infection of high viral load or when the epithelial barrier repair is compromised. CONCLUSIONS: The neonatal murine model demonstrated that recurrent RSV infection in early life alters airway barrier function and promotes type 2 immunity. A causal relationship between airway barrier function and type 2 immunity was suggested using in silico model simulations.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in children. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective, case-control study included all children < 21 years undergoing COVID-19 PCR testing at a tertiary children's hospital between March 2020 and January 2023. The main exposure was PPI usage. The primary outcome was COVID-19 infection. The secondary outcome was COVID-19 hospitalization. Log-binomial regressions were used to examine associations between PPI use and these outcomes. RESULTS: 116,209 patients age 8.5±6.2 years underwent 234,867 COVID-19 tests. Current PPI use was associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 test positivity compared with PPI non-use [RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.76, 0.94), P = 0.002]; however, there was a significant interaction with time of testing, and an effect of PPIs was no longer seen in the final months of the study following lessening of COVID-19 precautions [RR 1.04 (95% CI 0.0.80, 1.36), P = 0.77]. PPI use was not associated with risk of hospitalization in patients positive for COVID-19 after adjusting for other hospitalization risk factors [RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.64, 1.13), P = 0.26]. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find an association between PPI use and increased COVID-19 susceptibility or severity in this pediatric sample. These results provide reassuring evidence that PPIs may not worsen COVID-19 outcomes in children.

Viral Infections and Incidence of Reactivations in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

BACKGROUND: Viral infections remain a significant problem for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who undergo stem cell transplants (SCTs). These infections often result from the reactivation of latent viruses. However, our understanding of the risk of viral reactivation in CML patients who have not undergone SCT is limited, and there is a scarcity of data on this topic. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of CML as it is highly successful and has transformed the prognosis of patients with CML. However, TKI may be associated with an increased risk of infections. SUMMARY: We have performed a literature search for publications related to viral infections and their reactivations in patients with CML using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the period 2001-2022. The population consisted of patients over 18 years old with a diagnosis of CML and no history of bone marrow transplantation. In an analysis of 41 patients, with 25 males and 16 females, M:F ratio of 1.56:1, and a median age of 50. Age ranged from 22 to 79 years. Most patients with reported viral infections or reactivations were in the chronic phase (CP) of CML, with 22 patients (76%) in the CP, 6 patients (21%) in the accelerated phase, and 1 patient (3%) in the blast phase. Most cases with reported outcomes responded to treatment for CML; only one had refractory disease and 8 cases (32%) had major molecular response. Imatinib was the most used TKI in 31 patients (77%). The most reported viral reactivations were herpes zoster in 17 cases (41%), followed by hepatitis B reactivation in 15 cases (37%). KEY MESSAGES: This review sheds light on the importance of having a hepatitis B serology checked before starting TKI therapy and close monitoring for viral infections and reactivations in patients with CML.

Exosome-mediated regulation of inflammatory pathway during respiratory viral disease.

Viruses have developed many mechanisms by which they can stimulate or inhibit inflammation and cause various diseases, including viral respiratory diseases that kill many people every year. One of the mechanisms that viruses use to induce or inhibit inflammation is exosomes. Exosomes are small membrane nanovesicles (30-150 nm) released from cells that contain proteins, DNA, and coding and non-coding RNA species. They are a group of extracellular vesicles that cells can take up to produce and mediate communication. Intercellular effect exosomes can deliver a broad confine of biological molecules, containing nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, to the target cell, where they can convey therapeutic or pathogenic consequences through the modulation of inflammation and immune processes. Recent research has shown that exosomes can deliver entire virus genomes or virions to distant target cells, then the delivered viruses can escape the immune system and infect cells. Adenoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, paramyxoviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, picornaviruses, coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses are mostly related to respiratory diseases. In this article, we will first discuss the current knowledge of exosomes. We will learn about the relationship between exosomes and viral infections, and We mention the inflammations caused by viruses in the airways, the role of exosomes in them, and finally, we examine the relationship between the viruses as mentioned earlier, and the regulation of inflammatory pathways that play a role in causing the disease.

Unraveling the dynamic mechanisms of natural killer cells in viral infections: insights and implications.

Viruses pose a constant threat to human well-being, necessitating the immune system to develop robust defenses. Natural killer (NK) cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system, have become recognized as vital participants in protecting the body against viral infections. These remarkable innate immune cells possess the unique ability to directly recognize and eliminate infected cells, thereby contributing to the early control and containment of viral pathogens. However, recent research has uncovered an intriguing phenomenon: the alteration of NK cells during viral infections. In addition to their well-established role in antiviral defense, NK cells undergo dynamic changes in their phenotype, function, and regulatory mechanisms upon encountering viral pathogens. These alterations can significantly impact the effectiveness of NK cell responses during viral infections. This review explores the multifaceted role of NK cells in antiviral immunity, highlighting their conventional effector functions as well as the emerging concept of NK cell alteration in the context of viral infections. Understanding the intricate interplay between NK cells and viral infections is crucial for advancing our knowledge of antiviral immune responses and could offer valuable information for the creation of innovative therapeutic approaches to combat viral diseases.