Viral Immunology

Recognition of virus-infected cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

To combat infection in an organism, infected cells have to be eliminated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. They recognize viral peptides presented by MHC class I molecules and produced by the antigen processing and presentation machinery of the infected cell. This recognition leads, first, to the induction of the T lymphocytes by professional antigen presenting cells and, second, to the elimination of any infected cell in the organism. This underlies the mechanism of action of novel vaccines. We study these processes in mouse models of infection with cytomegalovirus and vaccinia virus. Techniques used include virology, immunology and cell biology.