EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Interferons (IFNs)-the body’s first line of antiviral defence-are cytokines that are secreted by host cells in response to virus infection. By inducing the expression of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes, several of which have antiviral functions, IFNs block virus replication at many levels.

Detailed explanation-2: -Type I interferon (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) is secreted by virus-infected cells while type II, immune or gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is mainly secreted by T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages.

Detailed explanation-3: -Interferons are a family of structurally related, species-specific proteins that enhance the immune system released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and tumor cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -interferon, any of several related proteins that are produced by the body’s cells as a defensive response to viruses. They are important modulators of the immune response.

Detailed explanation-5: -Virus Alert Interferons are secreted by infected cells to warn their neighbors, and once stimulated, cells of the immune system secrete interferons as part of their viral surveillance. Interferons are small proteins that bind to receptors on the cell surface.