Cytomegalovirus, transplantation virology and the human virome

Description

The group's main interest is to analyse infections with persistent human viruses, as Herpesviruses or Anelloviruses, to reveal their interaction with the immune system of the infected host, and to investigate their impact especially on immunosuppressed patients. Persistent viruses stay after primary infection within the host during his or her life time. Their role in the immunocompetent host, especially in regard of aging and chronic immune stimulation, is yet unclear, but it is supposed that they have a substantial impact on human health and disease. In the immunosuppressed host, as transplant recipients, these viruses, as i.e. Herpesviruses or Polyomaviruses, may cause severe, even life threatening infections. The group's current main subject of research in this field is, in particular, the interaction of viruses (in particular of Human Cytomegalovirus) with the humoral immune system and with antiviral NK-cell defence, and the impact of distinct human genetic variations on virus replication. Also, the analyse the use of nonpathogenic persistent viruses, as Anelloviruses, as marker for the individual level of immunosuppression after transplantation and perform studies to reveal the human virome and the kinetics of persistent virus strain populations over time. In addition, the group is part of an international study group, with the aim to assess on a European level emergence and distribution of drug resistant HIV- and other virus strains. (Description adapted from working group website: see link above)