The development of a model for immunotherapy of viral infections by using recombinant proteins, which connect the innate and specific immune responses (NZZ)
The development of a model for immunotherapy of viral infections by using recombinant proteins, which connect the innate and specific immune responses
Full title: The development of a model for immunotherapy of viral infections by using recombinant proteins, which connect the innate and specific immune responses
Grantor: The National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia
Grantor's website: http://www2.nzz.hr/index.php?lang=en
Programme: Partnership in basic research
Programme website: http://www.nzz.hr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=104
Duration: 2008-2011
Total financing: EUR 105.000
Coordinator: Stipan Jonjic, Faculty of Medicine University of Rijeka
No. of participants: 2
Partner: Jürgen Haas, Max von-Pettenkofer Institute, Munich
Project website: http://www.program.nzz.hr/projekti/detalji_projekta/189
Brief description:
Virus-caused diseases are frequent, not only in immunologically compromised, but also in immunocompetent humans and animals. Therefore, the approaches aimed at the specific control of viral diseases are still among the most important challenges of modern medicine. New developments in molecular biology and immunology have enabled novel approaches in the treatment of viral infections. The aim of the proposed study is to develop a recombinant fusion protein which could be used in the treatment of viral infections through their ability to bypass the components of the innate and specific immune responses. In this study, mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) will be used as a model of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. HCMV is an important human pathogen in immunocompromised and immunologically immature individuals. Like many other herpesviruses, CMV possesses numerous mechanisms aimed at avoiding or compromising the immune response of the host. Here we will test the antiviral capacity of the fusion protein, composed of the ligand for the NKG2D receptor and the variable region of the immunoglobulin specific for the viral protein expressed on the surface of infected cells. It is expected that such molecules, when applied in vivo, can mediate the specific activation of NK cells leading to the control of the viral infection. Furthermore, by bridging the innate and the specific antiviral response one can circumvent the viral mechanisms aimed at evading the immune response by NK cells. If successful, this model could lead to the development of a similar model adapted at testing therapeutic potentials in humans infected with HCMV.
