Effects of CMV on T and NK Cells; With Emphasis on Immunometabolism

CMV is masterful at manipulating stress responses and conducting them in a way that yields beneficial outcomes. CMV always causes metabolic changes in the infected cells. However, nutritional status affects the pattern of events following CMV infection. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis are two vital pathways for energy generation in mammalian cells, which differ in terms of ATP production and location. Understanding metabolic alterations required for CMV infection may lead to the design of novel therapeutic methods based on targeted inhibition of these cellular metabolic pathways. This review explores how CMV mimics, exploits, or interferes with the host cell, with emphasis on immunometabolism, and how, in doing so, it may evade immune responses.