# Crosstalk between vimentin and keratins in viral infection: Implications across the viral life cycle

## TL;DR

This review explores how vimentin and keratin intermediate filaments influence various stages of viral infection and suggest they could be targets for antiviral treatments.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted roles of vimentin and keratin in viral infection processes.

## Key findings

- Intermediate filaments influence viral attachment, entry, replication, and egress.
- They contribute to cell-to-cell spread and immune regulation during infection.
- Viruses exploit or remodel IF networks, offering potential antiviral intervention targets.

## Abstract

Intermediate filaments (IFs) have long been regarded as a static scaffold responsible for maintaining cellular structure and integrity. However, recent studies have revealed that IFs, particularly vimentin and keratin, exert a profound and versatile influence on viral infection. In this narrative review, we summarize how these IFs influence multiple stages of the viral life cycle, including attachment/entry, replication, intracellular trafficking, assembly, and egress. We further discuss their contributions to cell-to-cell spread, host immune regulation, and oncogenic processes. Collectively, these findings illustrate how viruses exploit or remodel the IF network to facilitate propagation, and highlight IF – virus interfaces as potential targets for antiviral intervention.