Figure 2.

Bile acids have opposing effects on virus infections in local and systemic sites.

Numerous studies have reported a role for bile acids in promoting and inhibiting viral infections, as summarized here. In general, bile acids regulate viral infections by either promoting or inhibiting IFN responses. Yet additional mechanisms are emerging, including enhancement of virus-receptor binding (e.g. murine norovirus) and increased ceramide-rich microdomains in host membranes which could cause clustering of the viral receptor (e.g. human norovirus). Created with BioRender.com.