EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 38/2 Article
Open Access Option
Free access article

Issue Vet. Res.
Volume 38, Number 2, March-April 2007
Respiratory viruses of domestic animals
Page(s) 299 - 318
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2006054
Published online 13 February 2007
How to cite this article Vet. Res. (2007) 299-318

Vet. Res. 38 (2007) 299-318
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2006054

Myxoma virus in the European rabbit: interactions between the virus and its susceptible host

Marianne M. Stanford, Steven J. Werden and Grant McFadden

Biotherapeutics Research Group, Robarts Research Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, Siebens-Drake Building, Room 126, 1400 Western Road, London, Ontario, N6G 2V4, Canada

(Received 9 March 2006; accepted 20 June 2006; published online 13 February 2007)

Abstract - Myxoma virus (MV) is a poxvirus that evolved in Sylvilagus lagomorphs, and is the causative agent of myxomatosis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). This virus is not a natural pathogen of O. cuniculus, yet is able to subvert the host rabbit immune system defenses and cause a highly lethal systemic infection. The interaction of MV proteins and the rabbit immune system has been an ideal model to help elucidate host/poxvirus interactions, and has led to a greater understanding of how other poxvirus pathogens are able to cause disease in their respective hosts. This review will examine how MV causes myxomatosis, by examining a selection of the identified immunomodulatory proteins that this virus expresses to subvert the immune and inflammatory pathways of infected rabbit hosts.


Key words: myxoma virus / immunomodulation / poxvirus / Oryctolagus cuniculus

Corresponding author: mcfadden@robarts.ca

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2007


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.

In 2011, Veterinary Research will move to BioMed Central www.veterinaryresearch.org

During the 10 years of cooperation with the editorial team, EDP Sciences has brought the journal to an international level: the Impact Factor has risen from 1.49 in 2001 to 3.579 in 2010. The journal has maximum visibility among the community, as Veterinary Research now ranks 1st in the Veterinary Sciences ISI category.