Chapter 4: Pathogenesis of TBE with a focus on molecular mechanisms

In this chapter we describe the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). To cause infection, TBEV needs to cross three different barriers; the physical, the innate and adaptive and the blood-brain barrier. The trigger of innate immune and adaptive immune responses, by TBEV is necessary to clear the infection. TBEV employs strategies to evade the innate immune response. Tools to study TBEV pathogenicity such as mouse knock-out models and reverse genetics are also discussed.