Viral modulation of the immune response

Contribution of viral cytokine receptors to immune modulation and viral pathogenesis.

We are investigating immune evasion mechanisms employed by large DNA viruses, poxviruses and herpesviruses. Specifically, we are characterizing viral proteins that are secreted from infected cells, interact with cytokines and chemokines, and control their immunomodulatory activity. We work on two virus systems: (1) Herpesviruses like herpes simplex virus, a human pathogen of clinical relevance; and (2) Poxviruses such as vaccinia virus, the smallpox vaccine. These viral cytokine receptors have unexpected properties, enhancing the activity of chemokines or binding to the cell surface to be retained in the vicinity of infected tissues, and provide insights into the function of cytokines. The contribution of viral cytokine receptors to pathogenesis and immune modulation is being addressed in mice infected with ectromelia virus, a natural mouse pathogen that causes a smallpox-like disease known as mousepox.

Recent publicacions

N. Martínez-Martín et al. 2016. Herpes simplex virus particles interact with chemokines and enhance cell migration. J. Gen. Virol. 97:3007-3016.

Pontejo et al. 2015. Comparative Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Viral and Human Secreted Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Decoy Receptors. J Biol Chem. 290:15973.

Heidarieh et al. 2015. Immune modulation by virus-encoded secreted chemokine binding proteins. Virus Res. pii: S0168-1702(15)00118-5.

Martinez-Martin et al. 2015. Herpes Simplex Virus Enhances Chemokine Function through Modulation of Receptor Trafficking and Oligomerization. Nature Commun. 6:6163.

Cabrera et al. 2015. Secreted Herpes Simplex Virus-2 glycoprotein G modifies NGF-TrkA signaling to attract free nerve endings to the site of infection. PLoS Pathogens 11(1):e1004571.

Rubio et al. 2013. Cross talk between the Type I interferon and Nuclear Factor Kappa B pathways rescues resistance to a viral disease. Cell Host Microbe 13, 701.