Role of IFN-gamma on innate immune cell-mediated protective mechanisms during Salmonella infection

• Applicant: Dr. Christina Tebartz
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 229888916

Infections with Salmonella enterica subspecies account for considerable global morbidity and mortality, and continue to arise due to prevailing problems in the generation of specific treatments and the lack of effective vaccines. Despite recent advances in the field, much remains unresolved as to how protection against Salmonella infections may be achieved and what the actual cellular correlates of protection are. Building on the established role of interferon-gamma in protection during Salmonella infections, and recent findings observed in the host laboratory, the main aim of this project will be to resolve the underlying mechanisms and define how interferon-gamma-mediated protection is achieved at the cellular level. Specifically, this project will examine the mechanisms of Salmonella recognition through inflammasomes, the contribution of a distinct subset of natural killer cells in Salmonella control and will define what the cellular targets of interferon-gamma are. The expected findings will not only have important implications for our understanding of how interferon-gamma contributes to host immunity against intracellular pathogens, but will also provide valuable insights into interferon-gamma -mediated immune regulation that can be exploited, for example, in vaccine development.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia
• Host: Professor Dr. Sammy Bedoui