[Caveolae/caveolins and virus infection].

Abstract Caveolae, whose major structural proteins are Caveolins, are classically defined as flask-shaped plasma membrane invaginations with a characteristic diameter of 50 to 100 nm. Caveolae/Caveolins play important roles in many physiological and pathological activities. In recent years, Caveolae/Caveolins were found to associate with the absorption, entry, trafficking, replication, assembly and budding for many viruses. This route helps break a new pathway to the exploitation of new antiviral drugs and the prevention and treatment of tumors.