We know pathogens more than interferons

Our cells have a strategy to battle against invading pathogens. The most famous one is the interferon. Cells secrete interferons when they sense the invasion of pathogens. Neighboring cells receive signals by the interferons. These cells synthesize several interferon-induced factors. For example, an enzyme that cleaves the nucleic acids of pathogens, a factor that inhibits the invasion of pathogens into the surface of cells, and a factor that lets the host cellular activity stop, which causes the inhibition of growth of pathogens. Although there are many interferon-induced factors, the detailed characteristics of individual factors remain unclear. In contrast, the pathogens have a strategy to disturb the synthesis and function of the interferons. The study of pathogen’s disturbance is being improved more than that of interferon-induced factors. It is likely that to find the weak points of enemies is effective for the development of drugs.