Characterization of the immune response to cytomegalovirus infection in adrenal glands

Ongoing Projects, Projects

Project title: UNIRI PROJECTS BY EXPERIENCED RESEARCHERS - Characterization of the immune response to cytomegalovirus infection in adrenal glands

Funding source: University of Rijeka

Project code: uniri-iz-25-106

Coordinator: Assoc. prof. Vanda Juranić Lisnić, PhD

Research Team:

      • Jelena Železnjak, PhD
      • Marija Mazor, PhD
      • Ivana Bertović, MD
      • Magdalena Medved
      • Martina Brnjić

Total funding: 52.843,85 €

Project implementation period: 01.10.2025. - 30.09.2029.

Brief description: Cytomegalovirus is a widespread virus that infects most of the world's population, as well as most tissues and organs. The kinetics of virus replication and the mechanisms of its control in some organs, such are adrenal glands, are very poorly understood although it is known that CMV can strongly infect the adrenal glands. In immunosuppressed individuals, CMV infection can lead to adrenal insufficiency, which is a life-threatening condition. In the last few years, increasing importance has been given to the study of tissue-resident immune cells, which can have different characteristics than those in the blood, depending on the organ in which they are located and the type of infection. Tissue-specific immunity of the adrenal glands is extremely poorly understood. Therefore, as part of this research, a detailed characterization of various immune cells in the adrenal glands of uninfected and CVM-infected experimental mice will be carried out, their functional characteristics will be examined, and the influence of individual cell types on virus control during acute infection and during reactivation will be examined.