Virology and Innate Immunity

Our Research

Herpesviruses are extremely complex viruses. We are just beginning to understand exactly how these pathogens manipulate our immune system to establish lifelong infections. In order to develop new therapies and vaccines, it is first necessary to understand the intimate interplay between herpesviruses and their hosts.

Research in the “Virology and Innate Immunity” group focuses on how herpesviruses are recognized by the innate immune system. In addition, our research analyzes how these viruses so successfully establish lifelong, chronic infections. The question of how herpesviruses circumvent or weaken the defensive line of our innate immune system plays a central role, as this is a requirement for the viruses to successfully establish lifelong infection.

Fundamental research for development of novel therapies

Via millions of years of coevolution, herpesviruses have adapted themselves perfectly to their hosts. They know exactly which switches to pull to weaken certain aspects of the immune response as well as to enhance responses that benefit them. The mechanisms used by herpesviruses to manipulate our immune system are explored in research projects in the “Virology and Innate Immunity” group. One goal of the research group is to identify novel viral proteins that are directly involved in manipulation of immune defenses. These proteins are potential targets for the development of new antiviral therapies. Another focus of our research is the characterisation of the pro- or antiviral role of interferon-stimulated gene products during herpesviral infections and their mechanism of action.

Spotlight: the herpesviruses CMV and KSHV

Research in the “Virology and Innate Immunity” group focuses on two members of the herpesvirus family: human herpesvirus 5, also known as cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesvirus 8, or Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).

CMV is a common pathogen, thought to infect half of the European population. In many healthy individuals, CMV infection is unrecognized - it may cause mild illness or even be completely asymptomatic. However, in patients with weakened immune systems, for example in HIV/AIDS patients and transplant recipients, CMV infection can cause severe complications.  

In addition, CMV infection of the mother during pregnancy can lead to infection of the fetus, which can result in permanent damage observed at birth or later in childhood. CMV-induced birth defects include mental handicap, deafness, microcephaly, and/or visual impairment. In fact, CMV infection during pregnancy is the most common cause of non-genetic deafness in children.

To date, there is no vaccine against CMV and there is only a limited selection of antiviral drugs available, which are unfortunately accompanied by serious side effects.

KSHV was first discovered in 1994. Since then, it has been identified as the causative agent of at least three types of cancer:

1. a cancer of blood vessels, known as Kaposi’s sarcoma,
2. a type of lymphoma, or cancer of white blood cells, known as primary effusion lymphoma,
3. a form of lymph node enlargement, known as multicentric Castleman’s disease.

The goal of our research activities is to gain novel insights into the interplay between the herpesviruses CMV and KSHV and their hosts, and thus better understand how these viruses cause illness. These insights are the foundation required to develop innovative, specific therapies against herpesviruses.