ABSTRACT
The interaction of hemorrhagic fever viruses with the immune system is particularly interesting, given the role of immune mediators in contributing to the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever disease. Ebola virus infection, for example, can lead to a severe “cytokine storm,” in which high levels of proinammatory cytokine production is a key contributor to the disease. This chapter provides a summary of the immune responses to infection with the hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses with a particular emphasis on how these responses may differ between severe or fatal cases and mild or nonfatal cases. By studying these responses comparatively, it becomes possible to ascertain which immune responses are required to be induced for the development of a protective response. This chapter also discusses some of the mechanisms used by these viruses to inhibit these events to allow their replication in the face of our immune defenses.
