engleski

Viral immuno-subversive mechanisms: can we make them work for us?

As a consequence of selective pressure imposed by the host immune response, many viruses have developed immune evasion mechanisms that impair host defenses. Herpesviruses are particularly inventive with regard to immunoevasive potential, which enables them to persist in their host for the lifetime, in spite of fully primed immune response. We have been studying immunoevasion mechanisms of cytomegaloviruses (CMVs), which belong to the beta-herpesvirus family. Human CMV infects the majority of people and although asymptomatic in healthy individuals, CMV infection can cause serious disease or even death in immunologically immature individuals or individuals with compromised immune system. CMVs are particularly known for their capacity to regulate immune response by NK- and T-cells, prominent effector cells of innate and adaptive immune response, respectively. In our previous studies, we have characterized numerous CMV genes involved in regulation of these immune response mechanisms. Notably, as a consequence of enhanced susceptibility to immune response, deletion of individual CMV immunoevasins results in virus attenuation. Using the knowledge of CMV immunoevasion mechanisms, we designed recombinant viruses which are able to induce superior protective immune response and, at the same time, remain harmless for their host. In my talk, I will review our studies on recombinant CMVs lacking various immunoevasins as vaccine vectors against various pathogens and tumors.

Viral immuno-subversive mechanisms, HCMV, NK cells, T cells

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