MoLife Research Seminar: Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann

MoLife Research Seminar presented by:

Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann, Professor of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Title:

License to escape - how cytomegalovirus modulates the innate immune response

Abstract: 

Herpesviruses are masters of hiding from the immune system of their hosts, which is one of their secrets of success: once people get infected by a herpesvirus, they will live with this virus for their lifetime.

My research group wants to disclose novel mechanisms that herpesviruses have evolved to escape from the immune system. We are addressing the question how the herpesvirus Cytomegalovirus (CMV) avoids its detection by the innate immune system, in particular how it modulates the antiviral type I interferon (IFN) response mediated by pattern recognition receptors (PRR).
We have identified several CMV proteins that downmodulate the PRR-induced antiviral type I IFN response. During my seminar I will present our unpublished findings on the ER-resident membrane protein m152 of murine CMV, which specifically targets the signal transduction pathway induced by the DNA-sensing PRR cGAS.

Further information: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Springer, Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Focus Area: Health - Life Sciences & Chemistry - Email:  s.springer@jacobs-university.de - Tel: +49 421 200-3243 - Link to Homepage: http://www.jacobs-university.de/ses/sspringer