Abstract: Virus infection is in close relationship with apoptosis of the host. Apoptosis of the infected host cells plays critical roles in the defense of virus invading. The active apoptosis of the host cells leads to the death of infected cells and then the clearance of virus. Meanwhile, in order to replicate more vial progenies and complete the viral life cycle in the host cells, inducing or inhibiting the apoptosis in host cells by virus would result in the occurrence of related-diseases, for example the persistent infection and tumor. This paper primarily reviewed the relationship between viral infection and apoptosis, with an attempt to provide novel ideas for exploring the pathogenesis of viral infectious diseases and developing new antiviral agents.

Key words: Apoptosis, Viral infection, Inducing apoptosis, Inhibiting apoptosis