General characteristics of virus-host interactions 

• HIV: a persistent infection 

- The initial events - The chronic immune activation - Genetic variability and the mechanisms of viral persistence 

• Influenza virus: an acute infection 

- The antigenic drift and the antigenic shift - The pandemics - Pathogenic mechanisms associated with respiratory distress 

• HCV: a persistence infection leading to cancer 

- Viral replication and its dependence on cellular micro RNAs - Viral persistence: antigenic variability; manipulation of host immune response - Consequences of viral persistence - oncogenic mechanisms 

• EBV as an example of oncogenic virus 

- General characteristics of EBV infection - Pathogenic mechanisms leading to cell transformation 

• HPV an old virus associated with cell proliferation 

- The benign infection - The oncogenic mechanisms