Recent advances on viral manipulation of NF-κB signaling pathway

• NF-κB transcription factors regulate the expression of hundreds of genes in immune responses.
• NF-κB activation by PRRs constitutes a research frontier in infection and immunity.
• Viruses have evolved distinct and intricate strategies to modulate NF-κB signaling.
• Viral modulation offers mechanistic insight into key regulation pathways governing NF-κB activation.

NF-κB transcription factors regulate the expression of hundreds of genes primarily involved in immune responses. Signaling events leading to NF-κB activation constitute a major antiviral immune pathway. To replicate and persist within their hosts, viruses have evolved diverse strategies to evade and exploit cellular NF-κB immune signaling cascades for their benefit. We summarize recent studies concerning viral manipulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway downstream of pattern recognition receptors. Signal transduction mediated by pattern recognition receptors is a research frontier for both infectious disease and innate immunology.