ABSTRACT
Viral infection of the brain frequently results in development of severe disease including meningitis or encephalitis. The intent of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of the host responses to neuroviral infection and the associated mechanisms of viral clearance. For many years, the central nervous system (CNS) was considered an immunologically privileged site wherein typical immune responses that occur elsewhere in the body do not occur in the brain. The blood—brain barrier (BBB) is a critical component of the CNS in that it limits the flow of material between the general circulation, either lymphatic or circulatory, and the CNS. The BBB is a critical component of the CNS in that it limits the flow of material between the general circulation, either lymphatic or circulatory, and the CNS.
