Nidovirus infections: Experimental model systems of human neurologic diseases

The presence of terminally differentiated slow- and non-dividing cells in t he central nervous system (CNS) provides a safe harbor for viral persistenc e and latency and constitutes a unique immunologic environment for viral in fections. Studies of experimental model systems of viral infections of the CNS provide insight into mechanisms of viral persistence and immune-mediate d pathology. Nidoviruses are comprised of 2 families of viruses, coronaviru ses and arteriviruses, and are common pathogens of humans and a variety of animal species. Both families of viruses contain neurotropic strains that p roduce experimental neurologic diseases in rodents. These include acute men ingitis and encephalitis; acute poliomyelitis; and chronic inflammatory, im mune-mediated, demyelination. Coronavirus-induced demyelinating disease mim ics many of the pathologic features of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).