Flaviviruses present a major public health problem in the US and worldwide. A role of regulatory T cells (Tregs), potent negative regulators of the adaptive and innate immune responses, in viral infection in general, and in flayivirus infection in particular, is poorly understood. We hypothesize that there are distinct qualitative and quantitative requirements for diverse manifestations of Treg function affecting virus specific responses and associated pathology. These manifestations might vary depending on time during the course of viral infection, localization (secondary lymphoid organs vs. peripheral tissues), and the specific virus type. In this application, we will employ a well-established experimental model of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in mice to investigate a role for Treg cells in flavivirus infection. In our studies, we will test the aforementioned hypotheses by taking advantage of FoxpS8'
Flaviviruses present a major public health threat in the US and worldwide. A role of regulatory T cells, potent negative regulators of the adaptive and innate immune responses, in viral infection in general, and in flavivirus infection in particular, is poorly understood. Our studies will assist in the understanding of immunity to flavivirus infections and help identify therapeutic targets for neuroinvasive viruses that are a significant clinical problem, especially in young, elderly, and immunocompromised patients.
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