Viral pathogenesis

Pathogens are disease-causing agents and pathogenesis is the study of the disease process . In cultured cells, observed changes caused by viral infection are ascribed directly to the infection. Disease is a more complex process involves virus effects on particular cells, immune responses or a combination of both. Research in viral pathogenesis seeks to understand the underlying molecular events that cause observed damage. This requires development of model systems. Models may include adaption of a human virus to growth in animals. Alternatively, studying the pathogenesis of an animal virus in its natural host may provide insight into pathogenesis of a related human virus. Modern genetic tools are providing new avenues of model development, including genetic engineering of animals. Results from several different models can be combined to gain an understanding of the pathogenesis of a virus.