Virus-Host Interactions

Melissa Uccellini, Ph.D

My work focuses on the host response to viral infection, mainly using mouse models. Mx1 is specifically upregulated in response to type I and III IFN. We have generated a Mxgfp knockin mouse strain in order to track the cells that respond to IFN in vivo. We are also studying the TIR-domain containing protein SARM1. We have generated knockout and reporter strains using CRISPR technology in order to study its role in the CNS during viral infection.

GFP levels in the spleen of Mxgfp mice injected with PIC at days 1-5 post-treatment.

 

Guojun Wang, Ph.D.

The generation of fluorescent Influenza A reporter viruses has made it possible to trace the virus both in vitro and in vivo. This offers new opportunities to study influenza virus replication, tropism, pathogenesis and transmission. My work is focused on constructing and characterizing different subtypes of fluorescent viruses.

guojun research

 

Michael Schotsaert, Ph.D.

Currently licensed influenza vaccines often aim at the induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies that can protect against morbidity induced by infection with a virus if it antigenically matches the vaccine. Immune factors other than neutralizing antibodies also contribute to protection without the need of full virus neutralization. This type of infection-permissive immunity often correlates with protection against a broader range of influenza viruses and understanding the underlying mechanisms is important for pandemic preparedness. My research focuses on infection-permissive immunity using the murine influenza challenge model. Innate and adaptive immune responses upon infection are monitored in vaccinated or virus-exposed mice. We aim at understanding how antiviral immune responses that are induced or boosted by virus infection correlate with the broader protection of the infection-permissive host.

Flow cytometric analysis of dendritic cell subsets in the murine lung during experimental influenza challenge.

Flow cytometric analysis of dendritic cell subsets in the murine lung during experimental influenza challenge.