Viral Suppressors of RNA-Based Viral Immunity: Host Targets

RNA-based viral immunity (RVI) operates in fungi, plants, and invertebrates to specifically destroy viral RNAs using the cellular RNA interference machinery. Discovery of diverse viral proteins as suppressors of RNA silencing provides strong validation for the effectiveness of RVI. Here we review recent studies that have revealed new mechanistic insights into plant and insect viral suppressors of RVI or suggested a role for RNA silencing suppression during mammalian viral infection.