Dendritic cells during mousepox: The role of delayed apoptosis in the pathogenesis of infection.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are effector cells linking the innate immune system with the adaptive immune response. Many viruses eliminate DCs to prevent host response, induce immunosuppression and to maintain chronic infection. In this study, we examined apoptotic response of dendritic cells during in vitro and in vivo infection with ectromelia virus (ECTV), the causative agent of mousepox.