The role of cross presentation in viral infection

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Brocker
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 179593469

“Cross-presentation” describes the presentation of exogenous antigen via MHC class I to CD8 T cells. This mechanism explains how inactivation of self-reactive CD8 T cells by tolerance induction to self-antigen might occur. In addition, cross-presentation seems to allow the generation of cytotoxic T cell responses to exogenous tumour antigens or antigens derived from virus, which can inactivate infected Dendritic Cells and inhibit direct MHC I presentation. Although several cell types seem to be able to cross-present antigens, Dendritic Cells are most potent to do so. However, despite many efforts, the contribution of cross-presentation to control of viral infections and vaccination is still unclear. Using a combination of transgenic mice with dendritic cells unable to crosspresent exogenous antigens and Herpes-Simplex-Virus- as well as Murine Cytomegalovirus-mutants lacking genes contributing to immune inactivation, we will study the role of cross-presentation in primary and memory CD8 T cell responses. The outcome of this study will be relevant for the basic understanding of the functioning of the immune system, as well as the rational design of vaccines.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants